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Winter Seed Sowing: A Guide for Beginners
Indoor Gardening in the Winter
Winter doesn’t have to mean the end of gardening. Here are some flowers and vegetables you can start growing indoors during the cold months:
Flowers:
- Geraniums (Pelargoniums): Sow seeds indoors from January to March for colorful summer displays.
- Coleus: Start seeds in January or March to grow as houseplants or summer bedding.
- Sweet Peas: Sow seeds indoors before the end of November or from late January for early blooms next year.
Vegetables:
- Onions: Start seeds indoors from early January for transplanting outdoors when the weather warms up.
- Garlic: Plant cloves outdoors from November to March for harvest next May to July.
- Peas: Sow seeds in a shallow trench outdoors in mild areas until early November, or start seeds indoors in late winter for a head start.
Tips for Indoor Seed Sowing:
- Use peat-free seed compost and keep the soil moist.
- Place seeds in a propagator or cover them with a clear plastic bag to maintain humidity.
- Provide warmth by placing the propagator in a sunny spot or using a heating mat.
- Prick out seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle.
- Gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions before transplanting.
Thrifty Seed Management:
- Sort out last year’s seeds and discard any that are old or mislabeled.
- Donate extra seed packets to friends or seed swap events.
- Plan your sowing calendar for next year to avoid impulse buying.
- Focus on growing fruits and vegetables that you enjoy eating.
- Choose open-pollinated varieties over hybrid varieties to save your own seeds.
By following these tips, you can enjoy the satisfaction of growing your own plants from seed, even during the winter months.
