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A Winter Sowing Wizard

© Stephie McCarthy

Plant and protect seeds in winter,
with plastic storage bins …

Winter sowing is one of those revolutionary ideas
that can change a gardener’s world forever …

… especially if you live in a Northern climate
or high altitude where the growing season
is short and the winters are long.

Using recycled containers like milk jugs
was far too clumsy for me, because I couldn't
store them very well in summer.

I use normal nursery pots and fit them
inside of large storage bins I've prepared for
outdoor use. The bins protect the seedlings from
wind, pets, and rodents.

The seedlings will be growing a few weeks early
with this system, and save a great deal of
space indoors, since they live outdoors.

Even if you use recycled jugs for pots,
keep them in a bin like this
so they'll be protected over winter
from people with clumsy snow boots .

I put several holes in the tops and one
in each corner in the bin bottoms
for air and drainage.
I make the holes myself with
a soldering iron outdoors, but if you don’t have
that tool, use a drill or an awl.

I can easily bring these containers indoors for a few days
to jump start the sprouting process.

Be sure to check as the weather warms that drainage
is good and seedlings are not getting too warm.

You can use the bins without their tops later as mini hothouses
like the round cake container above.

Prop up or remove the lid as temperatures rise.

Bins like these will last approximately four years
outdoors before getting brittle.

Hardy plants like mustards and parsley thrive all
winter, even in snow, with a little protection.

And who doesn't love freshly picked herbs, especially in winter!

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