I always thought condensation was due to moisture levels and warmth. If you didn't have much sun out today then you might not get condensation on the tops. I've noticed that when the sun is out and heats up the inside of the bottle, then as the temp cools the condensation forms. If you watered them today, you may have to wait until they warm up enough on the inside for condensation to form upon cooling.

I stumbled across winter sowing back in 2007 and became an advocate/devotee after my first year when I WS 533 gallon milk jugs. I've NEVER watered any of my WS containers and my garden beds now display an assortment of WS perennials & shrubs that sustain pollinators with zero supplemental water. I live in southern New England so weather patterns vary from year to year. The WS method doesn't vary; it just works.

I can't scientifically answer your question of why different containers display different levels of condensation but from personal experience would suggest you simply let nature take its course. As history shows, it generally knows what it's doing.

I have also been wintersowing for many years. But, I have had some containers get pretty dry, even in the shade. Usually this doesn't happen until the weather really heats up, but I never worry about overwatering. That's what drainage holes are for.

Martha

I've had average success wintersowing. One year I didn't water--and I didn't check. I didn't think I needed to check. I assumed the container would hold in most of the moisture and that year every jug dried out and nothing germinated so I know I can't just leave them and forget them.

I've also overwatered--or assumed I did. I thought the seeds rotted.

I've made just about every mistake one can--and am trying for as many babies as I can get.

No, I hadn't added water that day. I'd added water 24 hours before so I knew it had water even though there was no condensation. It always makes me stop and look again since my jugs dried out in a previous year.

Thank you all. Heidi

Heidi, we all make faux pas (false steps) when gardening--it's the nature of the beast. The important thing is to learn and move on after those mistakes. I have a huge 3-ring binder of notes & drawings I made when designing my garden beds. Did they all turn out as I envisioned them? Not a single one. Am I happy with how they all turned out? You betcha!

Two elderly ladies walked down my driveway last year and I heard them exclaiming about my garden beds. I walked outside to ask what they wanted and they were goggle-eyed and started to ask how my gardens were designed. I said, "I designed them." They questioned me for the next half hour.

TIP: if you're expecting dryer than normal conditions, poke a pinhole an inch below the bottom of a recyclable container, fill the container with water and set it against the base of your perennials. It's the poor man's irrigation system. TIP: it's worked for years for my neighbor and me.

Your jugs should dry somewhat before the seeds can rot unless you have lots of rain. If you have good drainage overwatered jugs will drain and not rot the seeds. The only time I had problems with rotting was one very wet spring when mix stayed sopping wet. Now if it rains a lot I cover the containers with tarps.

I've been wintersowing since around 2004, I think? I've noticed sometimes 2 identical containers can vary in the amount of moisture they hold sometimes too. Don't know why..maybe the way the wind was blowing that day or that jugs placement in the line up..I don't know. But I've found the best way to tell if they need water is to just pick it up. You will quickly figure out the really dry ones will feel very light compared to a moist one. If they get way too wet during a long rainy spell, you can always add a couple more drainage holes or open the tops a bit.

Wintersowing is really a great easy way to start alot of different things at one time with a minimal amount of attention.

Wishing you much success in your wintersowing!

Kathy