This is a follow-up to my annual winter sowing post from last January… I've had really good results overall, again! Only 3 species haven't germinated yet (Swamp & Butterfly Milkweed and Eastern Star Sedge… but I had very disappointing results with Culver's Root after a very successful winter-sowing experience last year). Most species have very healthy growth so far, and I'm looking forward to getting these in the ground in the next couple weeks. I'm especially excited about the Prairie Brome (Bromus kalmii), Tall Thistle (Cirsium altissimum), Field Pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta), and Canada Milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis)!
by LRonHoward
21 Comments
You’re in the right place ! And way to go, those are impressive! I have three little trays of desert four o’clock that I’m so proud of.
I understand! Good results there. Canada milkvetch and tall thistle are very worthy of excitement but also the least likely plants for normies to get excited about. If you wintersowed directly in those tray, that’s very good germination. Also, native plants seem very unpredictable in their annual germination patterns, some years I’ll have 100% germination, the following Ill have none.
Wow, beautiful!! So organized. I am just starting out and I wish I had your knowledge. I’ll save this post as a resource. I had swamp milkweed just appear in our garden this season – so thrilled; not sure how it got there. I also have my favorite Common Evening Primrose – which I don’t think is native – but the bees love it and then when it goes to seed a wide variety of birds are all over it. Ontario-Kitchener/Waterloo
You’re an inspiration!!
How !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gorgeous flats!
Outstanding! You have to share your secret to having such awesome results. Well played.
I love pussy toes! We have some just growing in our yard in 5a in MI. I was just looking at rosy pussy toes last night!
Lovely! I am curious – being a lazy gardener, if I “winter sow” it is a matter of scattering seeds and seeing what comes up – pretty good results, though it would not be ideal if a person had a serious plan or a large area to plant.
So, I think: It is July. It is HOT, do you and others have good results planting small seedlings out this late in the year? I feel like one would need a lot of water to help them along until they can grow a mature root system. Do you need to provide shade for a time? Do they do just fine planted out in this heat? Pure curiousity on my part.
I’m curious, how do you get them to stay moist? Maybe it’s because of the soil I used but I’ve tried some plug trays for the past 2 winters and most of the cells get hydrophobic /don’t stay evenly damp over the winter if I just leave them
I ABSOLUTELY care. I’m planning to do something like this this year, but most of the winter sowing I see online is for veggie annuals. Excuse me while I stalk your post history for tips!
Well done!!
So you’re sowing in trays and then just leaving them outside over winter then? I’m just getting started with natives and the easier, the better lol
Those look great! Amazing job! 👍🏻
Oh my god this is incredible!!!
Looks awesome! I will definitely be doing trays next time. Milk jugs were a hassle to deal with in my opinion.
I AM SO IMPRESSED! my kingdom for your plant prowess!
This is impressive I have to try this method next year. I had tons of propagation in my milk jugs over winter, but screwed up my transfer to separate pots and lost about 90% of everything
Niiiice! Keep on going, rockstar!😀
I am very impressed and inspired!
What type of soil did you use?