What if we told you that you can successfully start seeds without:
A greenhouse
Expensive grow lights and heat mats
A dedicated, climate controlled space for rows of seed starting trays
Investing in plug trays, liners or soil blocking tools?
Hours spent adjusting lights, rotating racks, and watering?
What if we told you that all you need is:
🌱 Basic soil mix
🌱 Recycled plastic gallon jugs
🌱 Duct Tape
🌱 Small space in full sun to set your jugs
🌱 10-20 minutes to prepare and plant your jugs
Get ready to simplify every part of the seed starting process with WINTER SEED SOWING.
This tried-and-true seed starting method is truly minimal cost (you're pretty much looking at the cost of a roll of duct tape), minimal effort and maximum output. By allowing seeds to germinate outdoors in *somewhat* climate controlled mini-greenhouses (aka: milk jugs), mother nature takes the lead and seeds germinate and grow at rates matched to their growing zone. You know what this means right? NO HARDENING OFF is required! Because your seedlings have germinated and grown outdoors, there’s no need to spend days moving trays of seedlings inside and out again, acclimating them to outdoor temps.
Start your seeds in just THREE simple steps:
1) Prep your jugs or containers. Upcycled plastic milk or water jugs work best for this process, but it’s easy to experiment and to discover what size and shape containers work best for you.
To prepare your ‘mini-greenhouses':
Start with a clean container.
Cut your container open, leaving a 1-2 inch “hinge” so the “lid” can be opened and closed.
Create 3-6 drainage holes in the bottom of the container. (Pro-Tip: use a hot glue gun or solder to melt the holes or use a screwdriver or nail to punch holes in the bottom.
Fill the container with 4inches of damp (not soaking) potting soil mix. Mix in worm castings or organic 3-way fertilizer to ammend the soil. (Do not use sterile seed starting mix.)
2) Plant your seeds. Carefully plant your seeds at the prescribed depth. Don’t worry too much about precision here: your seeds will be loosely scattered-no need for rows here. DO over-seed: with winter-sowing, you’re mirroring mother-nature, so don’t be afraid to plant generously. Add a plant label with important seeding information (plant type, planting date.)
3) Close the lid and wrap the seam with a piece of duct tape to keep the “greenhouse” closed. Place your jugs outdoors in full sunlight. Remember, this is WINTER SOWING, so your seeds CAN be placed outside at any temperature. Exposure to true length of day light and winter temps will trigger your seeds to germinate at just the right time. Depending on tempertures, you’ll need to occassionally monitor the moisture in your mini-greenhouses.
Condensation should provide sufficient moisture, but if soil starts to dry out, use a spray bottle to lightly moisten the surface. As your seedlings grow, you can “bottom water” by setting the jugs in a shallow tray of water to absorb water from the roots.
When your seedlings are mature and you’ve passed your last frost date, they can be transplanted into the garden. Because seedlings have grown closely, the best method for transplanting is to divide the starts in “chunks” to be planted out. While you can separate individual plant starts, it’s often easier on the plants (and you!) to simply plant out a group of seedings.
If you’d like to learn more about winter seed sowing, Growing Kindness garden coach Lori Princiotto shares all about it in a complete tutorial video that’s available for Growing Kindness Team members in The GK Greenhouse, our member’s only community forum.
You can also learn more about winter seed starting HERE with these great Youtube tutorials from Cheryl Mann.
Questions about winter seed starting or milk-jug seed sowing? Let us know below!