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SneIrish

SneIrish's 2011 Winter Sowing garden

Garden Type: Propagator | Sun: Partial Sun | Soil: Potting Mix | Established: 2010 | Organic ARCHIVED

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Third year of Winter Sowing. I am continuing to refine the process as I learn from the previous years.

2010 was a year of water! We had a lot of snow and way too much rain and flooding early in the spring. There was a significant decline in germination rates, which I believe directly correlates to the overabundance of water. I will be resowing some of the seeds that did not germinate last year.

For 2011 I am only going to use the coffee containers. I just feel they are a better choice for a number of reasons, not least of which is that they are much sturdier without the tendency to become brittle from the cold. There is also no need to add a marker or tag for identification, since it is all one piece without any chance of the number id getting lost. I already have all the containers I used last year to use again. The only thing I need to buy is a package of freezer-weight plastic baggies. Speaking of the plastic… I have decided to make smaller holes so the water will tend to seep in rather than pour. I found that a good deal of potting mix was washed out through the drainage holes in the bottom as large amounts of water drained through. The drainage holes are not really that big, so I’m thinking a slower rate of flow for water from the top will help. Since I am reusing the same containers from last year, I am not going to try to get them in numerical order. I will just note the ID number in the name of the planting. They will be listed alphabetically on this garden’s plantings page, so it should be easy enough to track and find.

Again I’m thinking I will sow somewhere around 50 to 60 containers. Probably not too many annuals or vegetables if any, as the WS method doesn’t seem to have any benefit for these. As a matter of fact, I think for annual plants, WS is less effective in my limited experience.

My Solstice Sowing
Remembrance – Meconopsis cambrica, Welsh Poppy, for my dear father (R.I.P.) and his family
Life – Spigelia marilandica, Indian Pink, provides lots of nectar
Mother Nature – I don’t have any tree seeds or a place to plant a tree, so I substitute a shrub, Calluna vulgaris, Scottish Heather
Faith – Althea officinalis, Marshmallow, for its medicinal properties

Located in Swansea, MA, United States, SneIrish's 2011 Winter Sowing garden is an indoor organic garden that currently contains 0 plants.

This is a Propagator garden that is known to be in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. It has mainly Potting Mix soil and receives Partial Sun light.
seed startingpropagationwinter sowingstratification

Photos

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Plantings

Comments

  • Deanna

    Deanna wrote:

    Just out of curiosity, have you WS German Chamomile before? I have an empty jug that awaits your answer!

    Posted on 10 Feb 11 (over 2 years ago)

  • TryingForGreen

    TryingForGreen wrote:

    Hi there, thanks for your comment on my page! It’s always nice to hear from someone local. I’m fascinated by your technique of using coffee containers. I have never heard of this and want to read your post more carefully once my boys are in bed. I look forward to speaking to you more. :) Kira

    Posted on 21 Feb 11 (about 2 years ago)

  • vaericks

    vaericks wrote:

    I just bought some New Jersey Tea seed on impulse…I had never heard of it before I saw it in the catalog. Have you grown it previoulsy? Any advice?

    Posted on 26 Mar 11 (about 2 years ago)

  • SneIrish

    SneIrish wrote:

    @vaericks – no, this is my first time trying to grow it. I still have more seed left though, so if WS doesn’t work, I’ll try another method.

    Posted on 26 Mar 11 (about 2 years ago)

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SneIrish

SneIrish

Swansea, MA

United States

Info about Propagator gardens

Propagator garden photos

Gardens near Swansea, MA, United States

Gardens in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b

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