Some people have been reporting premature sprouting of their containers, and others have told me they are waiting to start winter sowing because they're concerned it's too warm.
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| Winter sowing containers in snow |
The main worry is that the containers will sprout too early during a warm spell, and then be killed off by freezing temps.
For the most part, you shouldn't have to worry.
Perennials, hardy annuals and cold weather vegetables will survive just fine.
Last year, my broccoli was sprouting in containers where the soil was still frozen, and there was ice on the inside of the lid!
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| Broccoli sprouts in frozen container |
However, if you have tender annuals or warm weather vegetables that are sprouting, you will probably need to protect them from freezing temperatures.
Here are a few tips to try...
- Put your non-sprouting containers in full shade. If the sun doesn't hit the containers, they should stay cold enough to keep them from sprouting. Also, cover them with snow whenever you can. The snow will help keep the sun out, and act as an insulator to keep them cold.
- If the containers are sprouting and the weather forecast calls for freezing temperatures, then you could either cover the containers with a blanket, or move them inside until the freezing spell passes. (If they're already covered with snow, they should be fine) As a general rule, if the mature plant wouldn't survive a frost outside unprotected... then I would cover the container (only if it's sprouting) during freezing weather.
- Depending on where you live, you might want to wait to winter sow your warm weather annuals and vegetables. Here in z4, I usually wait to start mine until March. This year, I may wait a few weeks longer, depending on the weather forecast.
- Save some of your seeds just in case. I always save a few seeds until spring just in case something goes wrong with my winter sown containers. It's a good habit to get into, no matter what seed sowing method you use.
How about you, has this unseasonably warm winter weather changed your winter sowing plans this year?
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can you winter sow in zone 8? We never get snow and only occasionally get frost. Should I be planting a 2nd crop rather than even worrying about this?
ReplyDeleteYes! You can winter sow in any zone. Although if you have seeds that need cold stratification, you would need to give them a cooling period before winter sowing them in your zone - the benefit of colder zones is not having to do that.
DeleteAlso, your seeds will sprout much sooner than ours will in colder zones. Using containers to start your seeds, rather than direct sowing them gives them added protection from the elements and pests. I use this method during the summer to start my second crops.
Hope this helps!
Amy
I'm in a cooler zone, 6a (formerly 5b) and I'm not too worried about it. I've had a few sprouts every year when we've gotten a spell of cold overnight weather and I just cover the containers with their lids (and sometimes a blanket depending on how long it's been warm and how cold the night gets). Most things that come up early when there's still a chance of frost can handle the cooler temps.
ReplyDeleteI usually wait until about now to sow annuals and veggies, so that's on schedule. I did sow natives and things that require either stratification or scarification on 12/31 and none has sprouted yet.
Hi Monica,
DeleteGreat comment! Last year, I lost a bunch of zinnias because they sprouted too early. I had tons of seeds so I wasn't worried. I wanted to experiment with them anyway, to see how they handled the cold. Now I know and I'll start them much later this year! :-) Everything else was fine for me too.
Amy
Can you tell me why we should not use the soil out of the yard? I usually use a little of the worm compost and then some of the "better" clay in the yard.
ReplyDeleteAmy - Potting soil has been sterilized to remove disease and pests, so it's clean. Garden soil and compost are not sterile, so the chance of disease or pests killing your seeds/seedlings is much higher. If you want to use compost, you need to sterilize it first. Also, garden soil is generally too heavy for starting seeds.
DeleteIt's worth spending a few extra dollars on potting soil, rather than taking the chance using garden soil/compost.
Amy
Ive had to prechill a lot of seed that I normally would have just wintersown because of the up and down temps,I was afraid that some of mine that call for 90 to 120 days of 40 degree temps wouldnt get it,I'm glad I did,very strange winter..74 degrees today
ReplyDeleteGood call on prechilling your seeds! Wow, 74 degrees in February! Unreal. Yes, it has been such a weird winter. They said we were supposed to get a couple feet of snow this Sunday, now they're saying just a dusting (again!). I'm a bit worried about drought in the spring.
DeleteAmy