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Winter Sowing How-To

Get your gardening fix in the middle of the winter.

Patty Shipley will help you sow in recycled containers and explain the how and why of sowing seed in the winter. Once you put the containers outside, there’s nothing else to do until spring.

This is a hands-on activity, so dress for mess.  Winter sowing is a way to germinate seeds by mimicking the way they would grow in nature. By sowing seeds outside in ventilated containers, the germination rate is increased and the seeds are protected from disappearing in the garden or being eaten by any number of hungry critters. This method is designed for seeds that need the cold and moist cycle of winter conditions (stratification) before they can break dormancy and sprout when nature tells them to.

Patty Shipley,owner of "Leaves for Wildlife", will help you sow your seeds.  She will also talk about native plants and will have some native plant seeds on hand.

This class is FREE, but REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Students may bring the following, but it is not required:

• Recycled containers such as plastic jugs cut in half horizontally, lettuce container clam shells, to-go cups with plastic lids, foil baking pans with clear plastic lids. The main requirement is the containers be about 3-4 inches tall with drainage holes and a clear top with ventilation holes.
• Potting soil.
• SEEDS - you are welcome to trade seeds with others who bring their seeds.  Patty will also supply some seeds.
• Duct tape for taping down lids.

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