2021 February

 

2021 January

This is my first year attempting ‘winter sowing’.  I honestly had not heard of starting seeds outside in milk jugs.  My lights from Gardener’s Supply are backordered yet again, so starting without lights sounds like a fine plan.  The Golden Alexander and Phlox were both listed as “difficult” seeds to start inside so were good candidates for my first jug.

Step one was to poke some drainage holes into both the bottom and top of the jug.  This is easiest to do while the jug is still in one piece. Discard the lid.

Step two was to measure about four inches up from the bottom and cut around the jug leaving a couple inches around the handle still attached.  This little hinge lets you tip the top back so you can plant it.

Step three was to wet the soil and add it to the bottom of the jug.  I was taught wetting the soil first made the process easier and I can see this is true.

Step four was to plant the seeds.  I neglected to put a plant label inside the jug.  Hopefully my pictures will tell me what I did this time.

Step five was to tape the top back on to the bottom, and write what was planted on the outside of the jug.  I wrote with a sharpie and have since learned sharpies do not do well in the sun.  I have purchased a “Garden Marker” pen for future jugs.

That was it!  My first jug is outside.

 

From what I have read, Winter Sowing gives you a slight head start over sowing directly in the ground after the soil warms.  It allows stratification to happen naturally for those plants that require it.  It keeps pests, like birds and squirrels, from eating your seeds before they sprout.  There isn't as great a need to "harden" seedlings since they are already in the sun, but some do recommend opening the lid to the sun multiple days in increasing time to acclimate the seedlings to full sun.  Mother nature waters from above but if there isn't a lot of rain once your seeds sprout you may need to add water.  If a late frost happens after you have seedlings you may want to throw a blanket over your jugs to protect them.  

I'm going to attempt multiple jugs in the months ahead!

January

Plan:

First half – Cold stratify Liatris, Silky Aster, Golden Alexander, and Phlox (dark)

Reality:

1/2/ Planted Golden Alexander and Phlox in a gallon milk jug.  Planted those two plus Liatris and Silky Aster in damp paper towels within ziplocks, and in condiment containers on top of damp paper towel and covered by a thin layer of dirt.  Put these in the refrigerator.

1/14 Soaked 20 seeds of Radish Patricia for a few hours then let them sprout.

1/17 Planted Radish Patricia in an old mushroom container with holes 

1/22 Radish have broken through the soil

 

February

Plan:

First half – Cold stratify in ziplocks Joe Pye, Rudbeckia, Heliopsis, Milkweeds and BW, and Coneflower

Start shallots in a small pot. 

Second half - Start parsley (dark/soak 24hr) around 21st.

 

Books added in January

Planting the Natural Garden by Piet Oudolf

 

YouTube Follows added in January

Almost Heaven Homestead

Epic Gardening

Epic Homesteading

GrowVeg

Northlawn Flower Farm

P. Allen Smith

The Wisconsin Vegetable Gardener

 

Facebook Groups added in January

Back to Eden Gardening

 

Facebook Likes (first time documented)

Dig In Minnesota

Dragonfly Gardens Greenhouse and Nursery

Grow Food, Not Lawns

Growing Organic, Eating Organic

Midwest Native Plant Society

Monarch Sanctuary Wayside and Discovery Field

Organic Gardening

The Yarden

Vegetable Gardening

Veggie Gardening

 

Memberships added in January

Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center -

Wild Ones Natural Landscapers Ltd – St. Croix Oak Savanna in Stillwater