Comments on: Winter sowing, aka cold stratification

By: Lynn

Lynn — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:43:42 +0000

Thanks for demystify this for me, Kathy. I’ve just come across “winter sowing” resources and want to know more (and your post was on the first Google page). Growing from seed would help us re-do a front yard much more economically (I hope). This helps

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:52:31 +0000

Interesting post, Kathy. At the risk of stirring up something, I will say that certain people who have laid claim to “creating” winter sowing have always kind of made me raise my eyebrow at their sometimes militant stance on the issue, because I’m sure it had been done before…

In any case, I was also interested in the idea that cold stratification, winter sowing, whatever you want to call it, should be done on the north side of the house. Ever since I moved here, I’ve done mine on the south side–because it was right outside my side door, and I would see and remember the little containers to check them every once in a while!

By: Shady Gardener

Shady Gardener — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:58:48 +0000

Encouraging post. Perhaps I’ll get out some soil and seeds YET!

By: Neil Moran

Neil Moran — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:29:08 +0000

I stratify native perennial seeds in my refrigerator. I do this in ziplock bags and chewing tobacco containers. I mix in enough potting mix to keep it moist. Works well, but keep an eye on it, in some cases it may sprout! Once, I did Sorbus seeds this way and they sprouted. I caught it in time and went on to grow some nice Mountain Ash trees.

By: wiseacre

wiseacre — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:31:07 +0000

I wasn’t familiar with Iris setosa so I went ad looked it up. I found some interesting info at Dave’s Garden:

Now I wonder if I haven’t actually seen them or a hybrid in the wild and mistook them for the more common Iris versicolor.

By: jodi

jodi — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:15:51 +0000

Between you, and Nan Ondra, and a few others, I’m actually starting to psyche myself up for doing this. I don’t have the room or the time indoors to start a lot of seeds–plus the eight little catchildren like to “help’ when I do start seeds, but I’m really tempted to do some perennials outdoors. Not quite there, but if I keep thinking about it…this is a long nasty winter and a little puttering in soil would do me good.

By: Carol

Carol — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:05:30 +0000

Kathy, excellent point that winter sowing is all about cold stratification. Most of the seeds I sow are for the vegetables, so I do those inside.

And thanks for the link. After the rains we’ve had, my crocus might have drowned.

Carol, May Dreams Gardens

By: Curtis

Curtis — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:30:21 +0000

My front porch faces north so keeping them from the winter sun is no problem here. Thanks for the tip.

By: Bonnie Story

Bonnie Story — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:01:54 +0000

Hi again Kathy,
I found you thru the Heronswood Voice. Heronswood Nursery is still a huge name around here, despite having closed.

Are you familiar with my part of WA, the Toandos Peninsula? It’s pretty much zone 8 in the books but I’m going to plan towards zone 7 and 6 just to be a bit more conservative. This is a pretty bitter winter we are havin’.

We just moved from CA to WA and absolutely love it here. Bought the place 3 years ago and just 4 months ago came up to live.

http://back2theland.blogspot.com/

Also my dog has a blog… I’m codogpendent!
http://sonomadoggybloggy.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much for your excellent blogs and for your encouragement! I look forward to reading future posts.

Very sincerely, Bonnie

By: Kathy Purdy

Kathy Purdy — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:52:46 +0000

Thank you for stopping by and expressing your appreciation, Bonnie. Looks like I could learn a lot from you, too. Great looking site you have there. Do you have a blog by any chance?