How I Start Seeds Using The Milk Jug Winter Sowing Method!
“Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower.”
Winter sowing is the easiest way to start seeds for beginners and seasoned gardeners. You have probably heard of this method before. It is when you plant seeds outdoors to get a head start on the Spring growing season. The jugs act as a miniature greenhouse allowing the seeds to germinate and grow during the Winter. This method is perfect for those that live in areas where the growing season is shorter or for those who just want to start planting early. I also like using this method because I do not have an indoor seed starting set up. For those that prefer to read, keep going :)
Winter Sowing Supplies
Supplies
Jugs or Containers
Seeds *
Box Cutter or Scissors
Potting Mix
Water
*The best seeds for winter sowing will have one or more of these phrases on the packaging: cold hardy, cold stratification, direct sow outside in early spring, direct sow outside year round, direct sow outside in fall, perennial, and/or self sowing. For a detailed list of the best seeds check out this blog post.
Take the box cutter or a drill and poke holes at the bottom for drainage. Starting at one side of the handle you are going to cut around the jug leaving a hinge where the handle is. Be careful not to cut the top half of the jug off. This will make things more difficult and we don’t want that.. ask me how I know…
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Next add about 3-4 inches of soil to the bottom half of the jug, then add water, and allow the water to drain out at the bottom. You may need to add more soil as it begins to settle after watering. Lift the jug to ensure the water is draining out properly. Add more holes if necessary.
Depending on the size of your seeds, you will either make 5 holes (one at each corner and one in the middle) placing about 2 seeds in each. If your seeds are small like the Verbena seeds in the video, you can just sprinkle them on top and gently rake them in. As long as they are making contact with the soil and receive light, they will germinate. Lastly, seal the jug using the duck tape and write the name of the seed along with the date using the UV resistant marker.
Leave the jugs in a protected area from strong winds, animals etc. The opening allows rain water or snow to get into the jugs so you shouldn’t have to water the jugs at all unless the soil completely dries out. If this happens you can use a spray bottle to mist into the top of the jug. Be careful not to pour a lot of water into the jug because you could accidentally overwater this way. When I did this method last year, I just let nature do the work and just checked on them every other day. I let them stay in the jugs until my last spring frost. I am in Zone 8 and we have about 8-10 weeks before our average last frost date so my seedlings will remain in the jugs until then. When it gets closer to planting them out, I will open up the jugs a few hours a day, so they can receive more light. Thank you so much for stopping by. Comment below if you are planning to Winter Sow this year!! Happy Growing!
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