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Post by ahntjudy on Jan 26, 2022 14:14:33 GMT -5
The first batch of winter sown milk jugs are outside...
#6 of Flat Italian Parsley #3 of Thyme #4 of Munstead Lavender #3 of English Lavender
Many of the sites for winter sowing suggest cutting the jug by leaving the uncut 'hinge' part at the milk jug handle... Instead, I cut around the jug, leaving the 'hinge' on the side of the jug where the 2" to 3" label is, cutting up to the label on both sides... I've found the jug more stable this way and more efficient to duct tape closed...It doesn't flop around as much as leaving the 'hinge' at the handle...
I also use a long handled wooden spoon, inserting the handle through the top of the jug when duct taping it closed, creating some resistance while pressing and sealing the tape...Works well for me...
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Post by binnylou on Jan 26, 2022 14:20:23 GMT -5
ahntjudy, I’ve used the duct tape method, but have changed to punching a hole in top and bottom right where the tape would be applied. Instead, I hold the jug closed by running a zip tie through those holes.
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Post by binnylou on Dec 30, 2023 14:19:02 GMT -5
Bumping this thread, because it’s that time of year again. Will be changing the thread title from Winter Sowing 2022 to something else. There’s no need to define the subject by year.
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Post by binnylou on Jan 3, 2024 22:45:58 GMT -5
Started cutting milk/vinegar jugs for winter sowing. I should have started hoarding them sooner. I know I have more in the garden shed. I’d best retrieve them before the snow arrives.
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Post by binnylou on Jan 7, 2024 22:51:05 GMT -5
ahntjudy, if I’m using half gallon milk jugs for lavender winter sowing, do you think the container size will accommodate a scattering of 6 to 8 seeds ? Anybody?
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Post by ahntjudy on Jan 8, 2024 8:23:15 GMT -5
binnylou, Yes, that spacing should be fine, in my opinion. When I plant in gallon jugs, I place the seeds about an inch apart and they do very well til transplant time.
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Post by breezygardener on Jan 9, 2024 12:56:18 GMT -5
I was reading an article on winter-sowing yesterday, & one of the vegetables they suggest as excellent to start this way were peas - shell, snow, snap. Has anyone tried this? I always thought that peas were best direct-sowed because they didn't like transplanting.
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Post by desertwoman on Jan 9, 2024 13:21:46 GMT -5
I always thought that peas were best direct-sowed because they didn't like transplanting. That's my understanding too. Curious to hear if others have had success transplanting them.
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Post by emmsmommy on Jan 9, 2024 16:26:51 GMT -5
I've had decent luck transplanting peas but not sure if I actually gain anything by it. I will do it again this year in the last of the peat pots I have. I aim to get them out within two weeks of germination as I don't want the roots growing through the pots too much.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Jan 9, 2024 19:08:49 GMT -5
I have had good results with peas when I planted some in pellets, like Jiffy, or the Ferry Morse - slightly smaller. I do the same with okra, which also is one that supposedly shouldn't be transplanted, but I just wait until a few roots are showing on the outsides of the pellets, and plant them. I guess it doesn't disturb the roots, like getting them out of a plastic pot does.
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Post by ahntjudy on Jan 28, 2024 9:22:59 GMT -5
2024 Growing season started here yesterday.
Started 15 milk jugs of Italian flat parsley, 6 jugs using a new 2024 seed packet purchased and the rest using up 3 other parsley seed packets from 2023. Also started 6 jugs of Munstead lavender seeds...2 from a 2024 seed packet and the rest from 2023 seed.
Started out tweezer planting and quickly abandoned that technique as I would have been there doing that for a month of Sundays and ended up just scattering the seed, way closer than I would have normally planted it, and just covered it up with the 1/4" of soil. It'll be fine.
Instead of using stick type tags or permanent markers for jug IDs, I use the abundance of old rick rack, bias tape and seam binding that I have accumulated, tying small pieces on the jug handles, using the different colors or type of tapes for each group of similar plantings, and keep a log of what's what. That has worked well.
And so, it begins.
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Post by binnylou on Feb 1, 2024 9:07:37 GMT -5
A gallon jug and 2 half gallon jugs were prepped, planted, and put on the deck for winter sowing coneflower. Seed is saved from my flower garden. Mother Nature, do you magic.
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Post by breezygardener on Feb 1, 2024 17:20:12 GMT -5
Got one winter-sow jug sown & outside today - flat-leaf Italian parsley "Giant of Italy". The seeds were from 2022 (Baker Creek), so I sowed them a bit more thickly than I normally would.
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Post by emmsmommy on Feb 5, 2024 4:52:16 GMT -5
So does anyone have problems with critters getting in those jugs?
I know the garden has a resident mouse as I discovered his stash of pea pods last year and found evidence he's still there. That's the main issue I'm reluctant to winter sow. I guess if it was something I had an abundance of, I'd be more likely to give it a shot. But limited quantity and expensive seed leaves me feeling apprehensive.
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Post by binnylou on Feb 5, 2024 8:56:42 GMT -5
emmsmommy, I’ve not had any problem with the WS containers, but I put mine on the deck. Our house is split entry and the deck is accessed from the kitchen. There is no access from the ground level. Yes, we’ve had raccoons on our deck, but not lately.
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