There are so many seeds in each packet how many do I WS to make sure I get some to germinate?

I use 1/2 to 1 commercial packet per milk jug.

Should I WS 2 containers of each kind at same or different times to increase chance of getting something to sprout?

You can if that makes you feel more secure.

Should I follow spacing instructions for regular germination regimen when placing in milk jugs?

I don't. I sow heavily and plant most things out hunk o seedlings.

First year winter sowing is very exciting and nothing to be nervous about. Much easier said than done.

Hi Newbie in NJ
Everything you listed will WS fine, the first to come up will probably the dianthus, and last will in all probability the Aquilegia but they will germinate just fine. Welcome and have fun.
Alberta

Newbie: First year you will be finding your way, getting your feet wet. You will find what suits you best only by trying.

I just sprinkle tiny seeds into a jug. Sometimes they grow to resemble chia pets, in which case I just cut them up and plant out HOS. For larger seeds which are easy to space, like zinnias, I space more reasonably for single transplant.

Just have fun. It will work well. Next year you'll be on here advising new wintersowers...

Karen

You made some beautiful choices! Congratulations!

I don't have an answer for you exactly, but I would subscribe to the "don't put all your seeds in one basket" theory. :)

Half a pack is good, and then keep 1/2 back for a later sowing. If you have fabulous luck with the first batch, trade those extra seeds away for other good stuff.

Lime

And if you save seed from these four when they flower, next year you will be drying, packaging and TRADING seed! I'd love to tell you that then you will no longer have to buy any (all that time filling up carts on the internet) but you probably will treat yourself to purchased seed too, cause if you stay on this board people tempt you with gorgeous pics ("oh I have to get that one"), announcements of seed sales, etc.

It's an addiction... healthy, fun and (relative to other ones)CHEAP!

Welcome aboard,
Nancy

Welcome newbie in nj.

The first year is one of questions and wondering if this is going to REALLY work.

I have had such good germination and growth through wintersowing that my problem is too many seedlings so this last time I sowed thinly for those that I
expected to HOS.

If I wanted 4-6 plants and the seed isn't tiny I sowed 9-12 seeds per milk jug and even then had more seedlings than needed. I place 2-3 seeds in a 2L if I want 1 tomato/pepper seedling.

I keep some seed as a back up plan. Perhaps the seedling got eaten by critters after it was planted out, or stepped on, or the first container didn't germinate, or seedling got frosted. Maybe I will want more of those seedlings another year and wasn't able to collect seed. Then I still have some seed to try again.

I do not sow multiple containers unless I want lots of that plant. Haven't needed two containers of sprouts or two containers which didn't sprout.

If I'm not sure if I should winter sow or wait until spring then I will winter sow and if they haven't germinated by spring I might sow another container then.

As for spacing, many of us ignore all spacing requirements not only when sowing but also when planting out. With HOS it doesn't matter if the spacing is as stated. The strongest seedling will survive or a clump of seedlings will grow. I think having so many seedlings encourages us to plant them closer together with intermingling lush plantings resulting.

Most seeds can be stored for many years. Search "storing seeds" here or on the seed collecting and other sites for more discussion on how others store seeds and for germination tests. I use seeds for years. Germination is sometimes lower but I still have too many seedlings. My tomato seeds still germinate well after four years.

I don't know what "raw seed" is in referring to grass. I sow a shallow gallon pot lightly with grass seed. Then plant out as a clump or divide into two or four clumps. Little Bluestem doesn't get all that tall. Big Bluestem gets much taller. I love the multiple colors shading Little Bluestem. Bunny Tails looked great planted as one clump.

Have fun and remember that you can always sow more seed in the spring, in the summer, in the fall or the next winter.

I have family who spend their time in Clifton or on a farm in NY. In which part of NJ are you located?

Bobbie

Plant half, put the other half on your gardenweb trade list. Go over to the seed exchange and the wintersowing exchange and look for newbie and SASBE offers to get more seed instead of buying it. Look on gardenweb Member Pages to see if anyone has those seeds that you would like "just a few of" and e-mail them to see if they would like to trade with you. Or post a list of what you are looking for on the seed exchange (but put some seeds on your own list first).

Becky

Thanks for the encouragement and suggestions, guys. Need it this first year.

Bobbie, I'm now in Monmouth County, NJ (central/east along coast) BUT I lived in Clifton, NJ for most first 4 1/2 years of my life. 4 kids (all girls) in a tiny 2 bedroom...bless my patient parents!

Spent growing up years in northeastern part of NJ where I now know how lucky I was to have forest to explore and play in for hours on end. Jack in the Pulpit were all over those woods and now there's nary a one left after all the development. I'm actually going to try to introduce some down here at Dad's place. Love the unusual ones from the Orient but want to stick to natives for woods. Just seems right thing to do. They were a wonder to me back then and deserve a place in whatever little patch of NJ I can restore them.

Small world from MN to NJ.

I think most of us here (this will be my fourth year), felt very unsure. Before I wintersowed, I never grew anything from seed and now that's all I do!

Yes, the columbine will take probably the longest.

I can only tell you that this first year will be totally exciting for you and when you see your first sprout (mine was gaillardia), you will flip out. I did and actually - still do - whenever I see sprouts.

Good luck - and ask away - no question is dumb

Carrie

Last year was my first year, and I sort of doubted these great wintersowers and only sowed 1/2 a pack in each container. That way if it didn't work, I still had seeds. 90% of my containers had every seed sprout (yes I counted), and the few jugs that didn't I didn't worry about since I had so many to get planted out anyways. The rest I still have left to do this year. The other thing that helped me was to group all of my seeds in the month I planned to sow in a zip lock baggie. That way, I could just pull out the baggie when it was time, and not worry that I was planting something too late or too soon (if there is such a thing). Good luck

Nice list. You'll be amazed come spring...promise:D

I also would suggest growing your grasses on for a little bit in the container before you plant them out as plugs. Big Blue stem doesn't get no more than 3' for me and yes they do self-sow. My LLB is the common one..not 'Blaze' or any of the other newer varieties, so it doesn't get the multi-coloring going on in fall, but does get orange/salmon especially following frost. Coreopsis tinctoria is a good self-sowing annual too...I've only needed to wintersow once!

Salvia hormonium doesn't get that tall so make sure it's planted towards the front...these have also self-sown for me....never excessively tho.

Vera

You guys are a wealth of information and gracious enough to share.

Thanks for the tip on letting LBS seedlings stay rooting a while longer than other things, Vera.

Who'd have thunk I could find people who have experience with Bluestem! I'm putting it in Butterfly Garden because most of "lists" say to include it and Little one has clumping habit so I don't crowd out other things. I almost added Side Oats Grama until I read that DEER forage on it. That's all I need...put a neon sign up "Come on down and eat the Butterfly Garden...oh yeah, bring the rabbits and groundhogs with you"...LOL I've spent countless hours comparing lists of Butterfly Attracting & Rabbit Resistant & Deer Resistant lists then plotting spacing/height & nectar/food and I'll be darned if I plant something known to be candy to one of those critters.

All those articles that are driving me crazy say to keep things a bit thin so there's proper air circulation in garden. Bluestem is going in one corner of garden that's next to my father's prized fig tree. I assume Bluestem will naturally "seed" around the fig tree area no matter where I put it in garden.

Will I have a hard time pulling Bluestem seedlings out of there. I'll go the way of the dinosaurs if my "stupid grass" invades his fig tree...LOL.

After hearing about valueseeds.com and getting 15 more seed packs for a song (mostly annuals) I'm really excited to see COLOR and variety next year. My father keeps telling me I'll spend all my time watering these things but it'll just become another part of my nature morning ritual. Feed the kids (all my yard birdies) and water my WS babies!

Gotta get back to Christmas chores...drat.

Thanks again for all the encouragement, experience and information.

The only reason I suggested it is because if you plant them so small it's easy at first to mistake them for an unwanted grass and pull up...especially if your not familiar with how they look compared to other grass seedlings.
In my prairie bed I broadcasted my LBS seed (and BBS) but that first year it was a you know what trying to figure out what to pull and not to pull....wasn't really identifiable until fall when they turned color. The few I wanted in the regular beds were wintersown in cool whip size containers and planted out as one big clump, but I let it get some good top growth (which isn't much year one) to make it easier to ID.
BTW next time I do Garlic Chives I'll do the same thing LOL! All season long I'd damn near yanked them for grass.
Here is my 4 year old LBS on Nov. 24th...
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You can see these 2 wintersown clumps compared to Blue Fescue on Nov. 19th...these were cut back because I didn't want self-sown ones in this small space!
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You can see it's not very showy before the fluffy seeds and frost...slighty blue-green in color. As a warm season grass it doesn't start much growth until end of june/early july..
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Vera