i didn’t do any seeds in milk jugs last year — i just put some stuff like feverfew, nigella, and bachelor buttons in the ground on a mild day at the beginning of march. since i was growing in a raised bed at the community garden and in containers at home, nothing was really frozen, though it was still chilly.
the cool flowers book will tell you which things prefer to be direct sowed vs. started indoors. i did some experiments last year with sweet peas — i started some inside and direct-sowed others and the ones i started inside had flowers faster, but the direct sowed ones did fine, too. might be fun for you to try a few different methods and see what works best.
I’m a milk jug winter-sower (Chicago, 5a if that matters). In general, you don’t want to start indoors and then move them out to freeze, as the jugs aren’t that insulating. The winter sowing theory is that the plants emerge when they’re ready outside and acclimate from germination to the cold, so they don’t have the shock that an inside plant would have.
It might work but it’s not typically the way the jugs get used. They are best for starting seeds outdoors for perennials which required cold moist stratification to germinate and for fairly hardy annuals like sunflowers and zinnias. I have done a lot of winter sowing these types of flowers, and I plant them in the ground in early May.
Cold sensitive annuals or anything that says sow after the last frost it is recommended to “spring sowing” and put the milk jug out in March-ish. I don’t grow as many cut flowers as you guys, but I use this method for basil. It’s important to keep these watered and with lots of ventilation.
All that to say I agree with Madgeylou, the nice thing about seeds is you can try different things, and don’t lose too much if it doesn’t work well!
Ian from You Can’t Eat The Grass has a new channel called Red Roof Flower Farm. They’re keeping the farm going, and called Becca now. I hope it works, it’s a big endeavor for one person.
I mostly did snapdragons, scabiosa and bachelor buttons. I also have some feverfew, rudbeckia, ammi and cress. I ran out of dirt, so I may get more this week and do a few more.
I ordered more dahlias yesterday and seeds today. Did I need any of them? No. Do I have room for them? Probably not. Do I have more dahlias on a list to buy when they are available? Yes.
What kind of dirt do you use in your jugs? I read somewhere that it should not be the kind with any food in it like Miracle Grow, so I just bought plain old cheap potting soil. Will I want to put fertilizer on them once they start growing?
I have used Miracle Grow and Pro Mix. The biggest thing I’ve heard is that it shouldn’t be the moisture retaining kind no matter what brand you get. I never fertilize anything other than a few of my veggies and shrubs.
I just got some yarrow bare roots that I assumed wouldn’t be here for another month at least. It says to plant after last frost, but what do I do with them for the next 6+ weeks? It will get below freezing many more times. I could put them in a container of dirt and bring them inside? I know they are a cool flower though, so maybe I can just plant them sooner? I opened the bag and there are new green roots so I’m not sure if they are strong enough to plant yet?
they are hardy to zone 3, so if you plant them in a container or in the ground, and maybe cover them up if they’re out in like zero degrees, they should be fine.
Hey y’all I’m looking for recommendations. I have a spot in the yard I can plant that is sunny in the morning but fully shaded in the afternoon. I’m zone 7b in central NC.
I would like some low-maintenance colorful annuals that don’t get really tall (maybe 18 inches max).
Any suggestions? I’m not much of a gardener but I’d like to add some color around our porch so I thought this would be a good place to ask.
but it’s not typically the way the jugs get used. They are best for starting seeds outdoors for perennials which required cold moist stratification to germinate and for fairly hardy annuals like sunflowers and zinnias. I have done a lot of winter sowing these types of flowers, and I plant them in the ground in early May.
