Why Smart Gardeners Plant These 12 Crops in Winter
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Date: 2025-12-12
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Comments and reviews: 20
lisawaddell7520
This will be my 12th year winter sowing in zone 7b NoVa (which was 7a six years ago. It works great for those of us with no greenhouses and no indoor space or south facing windows to grow indoors. I have four comments based on my experience: 1. I have always drilled bottom and side holes because I always water my soil b4 I sow the seeds. If I had a particularly wet winter/spring then I had lower germination probably because my seeds rotted even WITH drainage holes. I can see how in regions like the northeast or pacific NW your no-pre-water method could work better, but you would still need drainage holes. We had a very dry winter and spring last year so I had great germination and my pre-water and bottom holes method worked very well because I pre-wet my soil--but I did still have to bottom water the jugs a few times cuz they got dry. It all depends on the weather that year and your area norms. 2. I have had to start later than what you suggest because of global warming. I have experimented with different start times and mid-January thru end of May works best for ALL of the veggies that I grow. Yes, tomatoes and eggplant can be sown in jugs too, but I do it in April while cold lovers and natives get started in January. 3. Bottom watering works better than top imo so that you do not un-seat very small seeds. 4. Jaques showed a version of what I call NTWS or No Transplant Winter Sowing EXCEPT that I use the top part of jugs as well as larger clear plastic bins, cake/pie domes, and any other big clear containers to put overtop of direct sown seeds as a cloche to get that greenhouse effect without the need to transplant. this works great for root crops like carrots, beets, turnips, etc. as well as peas and lettuce and greens. Can also be used in container gardens. Happy Gardening!
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This will be my 12th year winter sowing in zone 7b NoVa (which was 7a six years ago. It works great for those of us with no greenhouses and no indoor space or south facing windows to grow indoors. I have four comments based on my experience: 1. I have always drilled bottom and side holes because I always water my soil b4 I sow the seeds. If I had a particularly wet winter/spring then I had lower germination probably because my seeds rotted even WITH drainage holes. I can see how in regions like the northeast or pacific NW your no-pre-water method could work better, but you would still need drainage holes. We had a very dry winter and spring last year so I had great germination and my pre-water and bottom holes method worked very well because I pre-wet my soil--but I did still have to bottom water the jugs a few times cuz they got dry. It all depends on the weather that year and your area norms. 2. I have had to start later than what you suggest because of global warming. I have experimented with different start times and mid-January thru end of May works best for ALL of the veggies that I grow. Yes, tomatoes and eggplant can be sown in jugs too, but I do it in April while cold lovers and natives get started in January. 3. Bottom watering works better than top imo so that you do not un-seat very small seeds. 4. Jaques showed a version of what I call NTWS or No Transplant Winter Sowing EXCEPT that I use the top part of jugs as well as larger clear plastic bins, cake/pie domes, and any other big clear containers to put overtop of direct sown seeds as a cloche to get that greenhouse effect without the need to transplant. this works great for root crops like carrots, beets, turnips, etc. as well as peas and lettuce and greens. Can also be used in container gardens. Happy Gardening!
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jmweidner
I'm sorry my comment has nothing to do with this exact topic but it does have to do with gardening! This past spring I planted potatoes, it was a afterthought. It was a quick I have them, I'll plant them, we'll see what happens. It was also an experiment to see how they grew in grow bags and 6mo old duck bedding. Straw and duck dung lol! That was it! That's what I grew them in and I got tons and tons of potatoes! No soil Just old bedding and duck poop.
Chicken waste needs longer to break down but duck waste is called a cold fertilizer I guess, and you can use it right away. I have a flock of ducks so I have a ton of that kind of fertilizer but oh my God If you can find somebody who raises ducks and take their bedding I would highly highly recommend it! Also the plots that I put their old bedding in did wonderfully! Peppers galore! I'm going to try it on my tomatoes next year. But I thought I would share this tip cuz it was amazing to see the difference
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I'm sorry my comment has nothing to do with this exact topic but it does have to do with gardening! This past spring I planted potatoes, it was a afterthought. It was a quick I have them, I'll plant them, we'll see what happens. It was also an experiment to see how they grew in grow bags and 6mo old duck bedding. Straw and duck dung lol! That was it! That's what I grew them in and I got tons and tons of potatoes! No soil Just old bedding and duck poop.
Chicken waste needs longer to break down but duck waste is called a cold fertilizer I guess, and you can use it right away. I have a flock of ducks so I have a ton of that kind of fertilizer but oh my God If you can find somebody who raises ducks and take their bedding I would highly highly recommend it! Also the plots that I put their old bedding in did wonderfully! Peppers galore! I'm going to try it on my tomatoes next year. But I thought I would share this tip cuz it was amazing to see the difference
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kittiew260
I winter sowing. I typically do 100 to 150 jugs a season. Works wonderful for perennial & annual flowers, too! Gearing up. TIP TO MY COLD WEATHER FRIENDS. you will see gardening commiunity post its urgent to get jugs out. However, there's no true sense of urgency to plant right away unless your seeds need a period of cold stratification!
I played with jugs out January through April the same crops as a controls. Results the later winter sowing jugs & seeds were 80% more successful than earlier one. So don't rush to seed them unless the packet tells you you need 6 weeks cold stratification.
Happy winter sowing everyone!
PS Kevin we warm too fast for great success cole crops. I been doing this method for 7 years. Best to start them in a cold frame. Jugs warm too fast leggy plants
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I winter sowing. I typically do 100 to 150 jugs a season. Works wonderful for perennial & annual flowers, too! Gearing up. TIP TO MY COLD WEATHER FRIENDS. you will see gardening commiunity post its urgent to get jugs out. However, there's no true sense of urgency to plant right away unless your seeds need a period of cold stratification!
I played with jugs out January through April the same crops as a controls. Results the later winter sowing jugs & seeds were 80% more successful than earlier one. So don't rush to seed them unless the packet tells you you need 6 weeks cold stratification.
Happy winter sowing everyone!
PS Kevin we warm too fast for great success cole crops. I been doing this method for 7 years. Best to start them in a cold frame. Jugs warm too fast leggy plants
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WisGuy4
One problem with winter sewing in raised beds is the significant settlement of the soil by the start of the new growing season in the spring. This is especially true for any of us who used hugelkultur (filling the base of a raised bed with brush, logs, cardboard, and yard waste as a cheap filler to cut down the initial cost of filling a new bed with soil, as we have greater settlement as the base layer breaks down. Even in a bed that is now on its 5th or sixth season, I am having to top up soil levels with new soil and compost anywhere from 6 to 12 inches, which would be rather hard to do in the spring if I had winter sewn the bed.
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One problem with winter sewing in raised beds is the significant settlement of the soil by the start of the new growing season in the spring. This is especially true for any of us who used hugelkultur (filling the base of a raised bed with brush, logs, cardboard, and yard waste as a cheap filler to cut down the initial cost of filling a new bed with soil, as we have greater settlement as the base layer breaks down. Even in a bed that is now on its 5th or sixth season, I am having to top up soil levels with new soil and compost anywhere from 6 to 12 inches, which would be rather hard to do in the spring if I had winter sewn the bed.
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AnyKeyLady
Great video on winter sowing! I like to sow Sweet peas, poppies and chamomile in milk bottles in Jan. This year i found that our sweet peas over wintered in our hanging baskets, even though it got down to -6c/ 21. 2f. Our fuschias overwintered too.
I sow Amsterdam forcing and nantes carrots in Jan, in our cold frame, too as that is when we get our frost in London, UK.
Boxing day, 26th Dec, is a great time (if you have it) to sow onions and chilli's.
Some people plant garlic on the shortest day of the year (21st Dec this year) and harvest on the longest day, the following year.
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Great video on winter sowing! I like to sow Sweet peas, poppies and chamomile in milk bottles in Jan. This year i found that our sweet peas over wintered in our hanging baskets, even though it got down to -6c/ 21. 2f. Our fuschias overwintered too.
I sow Amsterdam forcing and nantes carrots in Jan, in our cold frame, too as that is when we get our frost in London, UK.
Boxing day, 26th Dec, is a great time (if you have it) to sow onions and chilli's.
Some people plant garlic on the shortest day of the year (21st Dec this year) and harvest on the longest day, the following year.
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tinad6812
Thank you. I’m finally going to try this method. I’m in zone 6. The weather has been brutal with below 20’s for many weeks, plus heavy snow. I have learned to direct sow my brassicas while it’s still cold in March. They just do better when started outside. I’m definitely going to do echinacea like that or direct. Thank you.
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Thank you. I’m finally going to try this method. I’m in zone 6. The weather has been brutal with below 20’s for many weeks, plus heavy snow. I have learned to direct sow my brassicas while it’s still cold in March. They just do better when started outside. I’m definitely going to do echinacea like that or direct. Thank you.
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emkn1479
I HATE using bottles for winter sowing. Works for many people, not for me. I have successfully used really large nursery containers filled with last year’s soil from pots to grow some herbs and nativesthings that need or prefer cold stratification or are good self sowers. Just top with perlite and leave open to the weather.
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I HATE using bottles for winter sowing. Works for many people, not for me. I have successfully used really large nursery containers filled with last year’s soil from pots to grow some herbs and nativesthings that need or prefer cold stratification or are good self sowers. Just top with perlite and leave open to the weather.
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paulsmith5045
I live in southeastern Wisconsin. Zone 5b/6a. I direct seed all of my winter sown seeds. The first time I tried winter sowing I did all of the jugs. I didn't have very good results; some stuff did ok. I have much better results winter sowing directly in place. Give it a try.
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I live in southeastern Wisconsin. Zone 5b/6a. I direct seed all of my winter sown seeds. The first time I tried winter sowing I did all of the jugs. I didn't have very good results; some stuff did ok. I have much better results winter sowing directly in place. Give it a try.
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nlebl16
I've winter sowed the past two years. I do tomatoes, peppers and eggplants since I don't have an indoor seed starting setup. I usually winter sow starting in January. I'm in zone 9A Louisiana. Haven't had any issues so far but I'm not saying it will work for everyone.
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I've winter sowed the past two years. I do tomatoes, peppers and eggplants since I don't have an indoor seed starting setup. I usually winter sow starting in January. I'm in zone 9A Louisiana. Haven't had any issues so far but I'm not saying it will work for everyone.
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CandyCoatedPain
I did a double take. Drainage holes are non-negotiable in 5b.
I also recommend toilet paper tubes in the jug filled with soil for any seeds that don't like being transplanted. You can pop the whole TP roll in the ground without disturbing the seedling.
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I did a double take. Drainage holes are non-negotiable in 5b.
I also recommend toilet paper tubes in the jug filled with soil for any seeds that don't like being transplanted. You can pop the whole TP roll in the ground without disturbing the seedling.
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TheEllenikProject
And it is great to reuse your bottles and jars!
This method also protects your seedling against bugs while still very vulnerable.
Gardening in Crete, Greece (first year, so not sure if the temperature drops that much here in winter.
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And it is great to reuse your bottles and jars!
This method also protects your seedling against bugs while still very vulnerable.
Gardening in Crete, Greece (first year, so not sure if the temperature drops that much here in winter.
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epic_gardening
As a super busy mom with a baby and 2 toddlers I did this last year and it was the best because we have such a short spring and I had things grow that I’ve never been successful with before plus it was so convenient and easy!
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As a super busy mom with a baby and 2 toddlers I did this last year and it was the best because we have such a short spring and I had things grow that I’ve never been successful with before plus it was so convenient and easy!
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TiaDavis-o7h
I find using those clear drawers just stored outside with seed snails have worked EXCELLENT in zone 7b! I did all of my turnips, parsnips, lettuce, cabbage, and carrots that way and plan to upscale this winter!
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I find using those clear drawers just stored outside with seed snails have worked EXCELLENT in zone 7b! I did all of my turnips, parsnips, lettuce, cabbage, and carrots that way and plan to upscale this winter!
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deltorres2100
Let me ask that mulch that I use. Does it break down if I needed it to cause I think I bought some that seems like it doesn’t break down not from y’all, but I’m just curious does that mulch breakdown
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Let me ask that mulch that I use. Does it break down if I needed it to cause I think I bought some that seems like it doesn’t break down not from y’all, but I’m just curious does that mulch breakdown
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ZZ_Trop
I winter sow native plants and perennials. I did 35 jugs last season and doing even more this season. I use Diesel Exhaust Fluid jugs I find at truck stops. Those window washer fluid jugs work really well too.
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I winter sow native plants and perennials. I did 35 jugs last season and doing even more this season. I use Diesel Exhaust Fluid jugs I find at truck stops. Those window washer fluid jugs work really well too.
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epic_gardening
Sheryl Mann, the juicinggardener, has ton of videos on winter sowing. I forgot to do it last year, but I plan on doing it again this year thanks for the reminder. Take care.
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Sheryl Mann, the juicinggardener, has ton of videos on winter sowing. I forgot to do it last year, but I plan on doing it again this year thanks for the reminder. Take care.
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Minnesotamags19
Lazy seed starter here: such a fan of winter sowing! In cold and wet regions though, masking tape won’t cut it, we need duct tape and drainage holes on those babies; -p
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Lazy seed starter here: such a fan of winter sowing! In cold and wet regions though, masking tape won’t cut it, we need duct tape and drainage holes on those babies; -p
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Allopexx
Hello, viewer from New Zealand here. Would you be able to put the equivalent temperature in celsius in captions when you mention a temperature in fahrenheit Thank you!
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Hello, viewer from New Zealand here. Would you be able to put the equivalent temperature in celsius in captions when you mention a temperature in fahrenheit Thank you!
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karenfreeman8331
I did a lot of winter sowing last year but all flowers in my zone 6b area. I didn't know you could do veggies. I'm definitely going to do it. Thanks guys.
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I did a lot of winter sowing last year but all flowers in my zone 6b area. I didn't know you could do veggies. I'm definitely going to do it. Thanks guys.
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sherrycrowe9660
Canada Zone 6 here. DO NOT USE MASKING TAPE, Use DUCT tape! The outside moisture will remove the masking tape. And add drainage holes in the bottom of jug.
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Canada Zone 6 here. DO NOT USE MASKING TAPE, Use DUCT tape! The outside moisture will remove the masking tape. And add drainage holes in the bottom of jug.
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