eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.

How To

How to winter sow seeds outdoors

Member
By Kat Yares
User-Submitted Article
(2 Ratings)

Most people think of winter as a time when nothing grows. However, many plants and seeds do well under wintertime conditions. Farmers plant winter wheat and rye, while home gardeners plant those seeds that need stratification to grow in the spring.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Read seed packages to determine the best time to plant. If the package specifies fall planting, the seed needs stratification, or winter freeze, to help germinate the seed. Plant the seed just before the first freeze of the season.

  2. Step 2

    Plant rye grasses or winter wheat seed just before a snow. The snow will insulate the seed as it germinates in the ground.

  3. Step 3

    Spread any type of winter sown seed thickly over the surface to be planted. Err on the side of too much rather than too little.

  4. Step 4

    Thin germinated plants if necessary. Allow the seedlings to grow 1 or 2 inches before deciding to thin.

  5. Step 5

    Mulch heavily over winter sown vegetable seeds, such as peas, onion and garlic. While most winter vegetables can handle cold weather, the mulch will protect the plants from a prolonged hard freeze.

Tips & Warnings
  • Research the seeds you wish to plant during the winter. Some specific varieties will do better than others of the same type.
  • Seed stratification also can be performed in a freezer. If it is too late in the winter to plant, place the seeds in the freezer for several weeks and plant in early spring.

Comments  

Flag This Comment

on 5/29/2009 Never knew you could plant during winter, thanks!

Post a Comment

Post a Comment
  • Have you done this? Click here to let us know.
I Did This

Related Ads

Home & Garden
Ruby Bayan,

Meet Ruby Bayan eHow's Home & Garden Expert.

Get Free Home & Garden Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

eHow Home and Garden
eHow_eHow Home and Garden