As the growing season approaches, many gardeners are beginning to start seeds indoors, but a technique called winter sowing offers an alternative method that mimics nature and may even be better than nurturing seeds indoors. Popular choices for containers include plastic milk jugs, takeout containers, and clamshell salad packages. Shallow containers with holes for drainage and ventilation are best for this method, as well as the bottom halves of plastic jugs.
Plants suitable for winter sowing include cold-tolerant herbs, cool-season vegetables, hardy perennials, and tough annuals. After planting seeds at the recommended depth, containers should be labeled and placed in a sunny spot protected from wind. Snow and rain will naturally water the seeds, and the freeze-thaw cycles outdoors will aid in germination.
Once seedlings reach about 2 inches in height and the danger of frost has passed, containers can be partially uncovered during the day to acclimate them to outdoor conditions. When the seedlings are ready for transplanting into the garden or pots, they will already be hardened against weather conditions and more resilient than indoor-sown counterparts.
Jessica Damiano, who writes gardening columns for the AP, suggests that winter sowing is an easy and low-maintenance method for planting seeds that can yield strong and healthy plants for the upcoming growing season. For more gardening tips and advice, readers can sign up for the Weekly Dirt Newsletter and visit the AP’s gardening stories hub.
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