Several years ago, I discovered a process called winter sowing, wherein you actually plant seeds (winter soltice is a popular day), outside in the snow, in little containers - anything from milk jugs, foil carry out containers, margarine tubs, etc., and you get the most incredible strong, sturdy and lush plants in the Spring. The thing is, like anything in nature, it is hit and miss; sometimes they work, often they do not. Most of my rugosa roses were sown this way, as were a lot of my perennials.
That darn Butter n' Eggs is still strangling everything in my old rose bed, and I'm ticked off about that ... sorry to vent
Anyway, click on the link above, and it tells how to do this. You can also do some vegetables this way.
The thing is, you save tons of money on plants - no need to pay for seedlings/plants; this helps relieve your mid-winter gardening itch; and in the Spring, you're ahead of the game.
Whatever you do, DO NOT BRING THESE CONTAINERS INSIDE, REGARDLESS HOW COLD, HOW MUCH SNOW, HOW MUCH ICE OR WIND YOU GET! The process is a hardening off thingee - my technical term - but, you will be amazed at the results. Rule of thumb; perennials true to your zone will work; annuals that reseed in your area will work. Annuals, are often not sown until the end of Feb. or early March.
The photo above is NOT mine, it belongs to Kasmira, of cinticapecod.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html Please check out her Cincinnati-Cape Cod Blog - It's delightful!
I enjoyed this post! I am getting ready to winter some things and harden them off too...good luck lady bug!
ReplyDeleteWill this work for vegetables in zone 7?? It does freez here at night eventually...
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