Re: Winter Sowing vs. Winter Growing

**sfg4uKim** 1/2/2017, 8:31 pm

BeetlesPerSqFt wrote:
Thanks for finding that! It partly confirms this method would be tedious for me to attempt again since I would be stuck with the individually-watering-each-one method.
But what I really don't understand how/why her hose still has water in the winter. The impression I got from the way my father religiously turned off the water and drained the spigot (and hose) every year before winter was that if you didn't do it, the water would freeze inside and at best ruin your spigot, and at worst explode your pipe and cause water damage inside the house. And that ignores the water freezing into a solid tube inside part of the hose since she has something on the end that blocks water from flowing out... Is her spigot and hose storage actually inside the house or something?

I disconnect my hose from the spigot, but there's no way to turn the water off so I just put an insulated cover over it.
Save

has55 1/6/2017, 4:55 pm

I emailed the company to asked about proper watering with their system.

from Ronald Wridge

Austin,

When I have a plant or direct sown seeds covered with one of my Greenhouse Buckets I typically only water them once every 4 to 5 days because they don't need it any more than that. Every night the warm moist air trapped under the bucket condensates on the colder inside walls of the bucket and that basically rewaters the plant. If I leave the top vent ring open, the I will have to water a little more often because some of the moisture under the bucket escapes through the vent ring.

When I do water my plants, most of the time I just open the top vent ring and using a rain sprinkler head on my hose and water through the open vent ring. I water this way especially if I have staked down my buckets to keep them from being blown away by strong springtime winds. If I want to admire my plants and see how fast they are growing under my buckets I just lift off the bucket and water as normal and then replace the bucket. You know all gardeners love to admire their handy work.

From my personal experience rain is not an adequate or consistent means of water a plant when it is cover by one of my buckets. Even with the vent ring fully open it would take a really heavy rain to do a good job of watering.

If you have any other questions please feel free to call me.

Happy Gardening,

Ron Wridge

WryCo International, LLC
Home of the Greenhouse Buckets
613 Sheafman Creek Rd
Hamilton, MT 59840
Phone: (406) 961-8891

"I grow a garden because it is cheaper than getting counseling!"

**camprn** 1/16/2017, 10:31 am

Bump

**trolleydriver** 1/16/2017, 6:10 pm

I'm starting to accumulate containers for Winter sowing (maybe early Spring sowing for me). Here is what I have so far. BTW the bench was made by my late father-in-law who had a passion for woodworking.

Winter Sowing vs. Winter Growing - Page 3 Img_3511

Winter Sowing vs. Winter Growing - Page 3 Img_3511

**sanderson** 1/17/2017, 12:45 pm

Family heirloom!

ralitaco 1/17/2017, 7:19 pm

This was quite interesting.
Is anyone currently doing this?
If so, what have you got planted?

**Scorpio Rising** 1/17/2017, 10:24 pm

CapeCoddess wrote:
Scorpio Rising wrote:I used water bottles for cloches....they worked last spring, I really planted out too early. But they acted like cookie cutters and lifted each seedling out when removing them ...

This was spinach and black seeded Simpson lettuce. All did OK after the trauma of uprooting again...but Ithink it was just too early. I don't know.

That's interesting that the plants were uprooted upon removal of the cloche. I wonder if twisting the bottle first would have help. Or did you try that?

Yes, I think there was some operator error here. I kept all the "cloches" (they are pop and water bottles with the bottoms cut off).

Honestly, I would (will) do it again. I do think I started the out planting too early. Will be more conservative with the timing.

**trolleydriver** 1/18/2017, 8:53 am

ralitaco wrote:This was quite interesting.
Is anyone currently doing this?
If so, what have you got planted?

I borrowed the container idea from the winter sowing technique last year. However I did not start in the winter and did not set out the containers in the snow. I had a couple of containers of kohlrabi and broccoli as an experiment. It was April when I got these going. It worked well and the seedlings transplanted well into the SFG. I'm planning to try it again but starting earlier (maybe next week) while it is still winter which theoretically should produce stronger plants.

Winter Sowing vs. Winter Growing - Page 3 IMG_1682_zpsk9fxwapx

Winter Sowing vs. Winter Growing - Page 3 IMG_1682_zpsk9fxwapx

has55 1/19/2017, 3:32 am

thank you for sharing your pictures and experience. It well appreciated. it so important, since we only get one shot per season at our experiments. This was very helpful.

has55 2/8/2017, 11:38 am

quote from Scorpio Rising, "This was spinach and black-seeded Simpson lettuce. All did OK after the trauma of uprooting again...but I think it was just too early. I don't know."

SR, I'm trying to figure out why your transplants were uprooted again? Did seed directly into the beds or start in the bottle and then took the plants out later for transplanting in the garden bed, then place bottles back over them for protection.

Robbomb116 2/8/2017, 11:41 am

He had said the bottles were stuck and took enough soil with them to uproot the plants when it was time to remove the bottles cause it got too warm.

has55 2/8/2017, 12:30 pm

Robbomb116 wrote:He had said the bottles were stuck and took enough soil with them to uproot the plants when it was time to remove the bottles cause it got too warm.

thank you. Would you happen to know if there's a way to prevent this?

has55 3/1/2017, 11:30 am

We're having 75 to 85 degrees days, but 35-37 degrees nights. The tomatoes are doing great in the direct winter sowing jugs. these are not seeds, but store bought tomatoes.
1st time doing this. great idea.
Winter Sowing vs. Winter Growing - Page 3 Winter10

Winter Sowing vs. Winter Growing - Page 3 Winter10

has55 3/13/2017, 10:35 pm

my tomatoes and peppers are doing well, but tonight we have a freeze warning. I'll see how it goes.
one yard revolution has started another experiment with winter sowing. Next year I will do the low hoophouse with the jugs for winter unless his experiment points out a better way. I ant to do direct winter sowing.

Robbomb116 3/14/2017, 9:51 am

Nothing has even started growing in my wintersowing containers yet. Not even the broccoli or kale. The fact that yesterday's high was 6°F might be why. Just when it looked like spring, and I planted some winter sown things, then we get a week where it never gets above freezing. Mother nature is toying with me =(

CapeCoddess 4/5/2017, 12:22 pm

To all you innovative people out there, I have a challenge:

Can you figure out out how to use these clam packs for winter sowing? Winter Sowing vs. Winter Growing - Page 3 00310

Winter Sowing vs. Winter Growing - Page 3 00310

They are the containers for the pound sized greens from the grocery store. The flat tops are throwing me...
thinking

Robbomb116 4/5/2017, 1:37 pm

I'd just add some holes on top for ventilation in addition to the holes on bottom for drainage.

ralitaco 4/5/2017, 11:40 pm

Not sure what you are looking to do exactly, but if you need/want more room above the flat top, you could cut the lids off 2 containers and put one on top of the other. Use tape, staples, binder clips or hot glue to hold them together.

You could also remove the lid and use the bottom as a cover if you plant directly in the soil. If you want to cover the holes in the bottom which would now be on top, use the lid as a cover.

Robbomb116 5/1/2017, 11:22 am

In my climate, this year I had some success winter sowing some cool wearher crops. However, so far I have had no luck with peppers, tomatoes, or eggplants. None of those have germinated yet, and I fear it will be too late for them if they do end up germinating. So for this yea I am likely to buy local transplants for this vegetables.

I DID have success winter sowing lettuce, kale, and broccolini! All of the these have now been transplanted on the garden.

**trolleydriver** 5/12/2017, 11:24 am

My 2017 Winter Sowing Reveal is available for viewing on the "Third Year SFG in Canada" thread.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t21190p175-third-year-sfg-in-canada#265875

countrynaturals 11/8/2017, 3:30 pm

Bump! The original posted link is no longer available, but there are some great posts, here. I'm really excited about this right now since we're drinking fancy alkaline water for Hubby's health and it comes in gorgeous gallon jugs that will be perfect for winter sowing outside.
Winter Sowing vs. Winter Growing - Page 3 Water10

Winter Sowing vs. Winter Growing - Page 3 Water10

has55 11/8/2017, 3:41 pm

great idea

**Scorpio Rising** 11/10/2017, 6:19 pm

Double duty!

countrynaturals 12/10/2017, 5:17 pm

Sugar Snap Peas are up in the mini greenhouses. I can feel the temp difference inside and out. I also have them growing out in the elements and doing fine. It will be interesting to see what happens when it starts getting really cold.
Winter Sowing vs. Winter Growing - Page 3 Peas410

Winter Sowing vs. Winter Growing - Page 3 Peas410

**Scorpio Rising** 12/10/2017, 10:47 pm

Can’t wait! So some will be in a greenhouse and other’s outside?

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