An update on my winter sowing season including what jugs have sprouted and tips for when to open your jugs when it starts to get hot. I also give an update on my community garden rental plot (allotment) including some lessons learned.
Updates on flowers, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes and more
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Have you ever had a problem with slugs getting into your jugs? Since it's my first year trying winter sowing and I am worried about slugs I cover then with a nylon netted bag.
Looks good, Esther! Still too cool here to plant much except spinach and lettuce.
You have done mass work in that garden. And you've done a great job, especially since this is your first time in that garden plot. Yes, the soil is the key. I've heard several times that if you feed the soil, the soil feeds your plants. Have you ever made compost tea? That really helps my plants and it's easy to make.
Hi Esther, yes that sounds like what I experienced in Baltimore here. I recently rent a plot myself so fingers crossed, I'm hoping all will go well this year. Thanks for sharing what you are doing. 🙂
You did great with your winter sowing, I never have great success sowing melon or pepper even when I sow the seeds late ,I checked today nothing at all ,different thing with my bachelor's button, cellosia ,Alyssum, baby breath and others are doing fine, just waiting on the warm weather
It looks like you're going to have fun gardening that additional space! Looking forward to see what you do with it during the season!
Gorgeous!!
So jealous. My jugs are still waiting for warm weather. Getting snow again next few nights then 70 by weekend. I don't know if this will work out because up & down assuming they all are goners sadly. Happy Easter and great update.
You are my Winter Sowing Queen, I bow to thee! 👸🏼👑🌨️🌱 ☺️😉 Oooh you are almost at 5k subs 🎉🎊
Everything looks amazing!☀️I’m in 7b in Oklahoma, patiently awaiting our 1 last frost after Easter, which 🤞🏻might be tonight! 😁
I'm so very jealous. My winter sowing was a bust. I just threw them in the trash today. However, I'm going to try the sunflowers because it's still chilly. We may get a frost today and I'm in zone 7B Delaware.
Thanks Esther🌷💚🙃
Now the work really pucks up!!! But so exciting!
Great Success on the winter sowing jugs!! I did a community garden and home garden too and it was challenging and rewarding to have the harvest from 2 sources.. Happy Growing!!
Let the Chinese Mustard flower because it’ll attract pollinators. Then collect the seeds or spread for a fall harvest.
My Japanese mustards bolted and were planted in the fall. My winter sown plants have not done as well. I’ve been up-potting plants so they can have a chance. Happy 💚 Gardening 🪴, I’ve enjoyed your sharing.
I cover my jugs tonight may go down to 30.
Those flowers at the end are so beautiful. Your WS is so much more advanced than mine. I am 6a Ind. nothing except the collards and mustards are toward the top, but most have germinated. I have about 100 jugs of flowers alone and most have germinated. I am having so much fun with the WS. Your community garden is coming right along. I love seeing all you’ve accomplished already. Don’t be discouraged. New locations are unknown in so many ways. You will figure it out. Keep the videos coming! Happy WS !
You’re doing great especially with the winter sowing. Mine did well also but I’m in zone 9a so everything has to be transplanted now before they start cooking in the bottles plus I have two mystery flowers. Your flowers are beautiful. TFS, HAPPY EASTER!
Wow Esther! You are going to be a busy bee. I'm excited to see what you plant in the back yard and how the community garden plants do. Your front yard garden looks beautiful.
Not gardening related, but your hair color looks fantastic!!!!
The hot pops of weather can take a toll on your plants and bolting is the worse. 🙁 I've been watering/misting my jugs every 2 to 3 days since the weather has warmed and we are stuck with this crazy wind that never goes away. I only mention it in case other "new to winter sowing" people don't realize you still need to check on your jugs every couple of days and then more so when the weather warms because they do get dry. We just had a warm spell, and the water must have evaporated away in one day because the next day, I needed to water again. I only went out to peek in the top to see what had sprouted and noticed some were dry. Most of my peppers and melon have sprouted in the last week and one sweet little Dr. Wyche's tomato. 🌱 Your winter sowing results are impressive!
I love growing the Japanese mustard greens 😋
Our lettuce, spinach, peas, and garlic are growing fine now in the ground without covering them. Will cover them tonight because it will be close to 32 degeees. These can take colder weather, but I'm not sure about the freezing temps. We are growing in milk jugs in an enclosed breezeway also with afternoon south sun. We are amazed at how much less space this takes for seedlings and how they are so much bigger than planting inside with sun from the window. Gardening is just fun and challenging.
Your garden is looking great! You have accomplished so much in a pretty short time in your community garden.
For your lettuce bed I would suggest using some recycled jars on top of your wooden stakes to prevent your tulle from snagging and getting holes. It is very likely birds that have been snacking on your lettuce. The sparrows had a heyday eating mine last year – and they ate my pea shoots too.
Happy Gardening! I love your videos and updates.
I enjoy your videos learn Alot
Love the community garden idea! We tried winter sown last year but did not have any luck. Wow can't believe you are in seed. Snowing here today! ❆❅ Blessings!
Things are really looking great! If you have a pinwheel shortage,I often use tin pie pans wired together and tied on a post to clang around until the birds just get use to it.🙄 It's the way that I justify buying yet another cream pie from the bakery,bonus!🤣
Girl I am so impressed with how healthy your winter sown jugs look. Love seeing you garden with all the enthusiasm and energy you bring! Thank you for sharing your journey with us! You are like a breath of fresh air in a stale world! 🌞🌺🌻🍃
Do you use all the soil when planting in the ground?
How do you find time to manage your home garden and your community garden
Everything looks wonderful! So glad you addressed WS. I’m in Baltimore city and my WS jugs are begging to be planted but I’m afraid of frost so I’ll be waiting a bit longer to plant. Ty🌿
It's always a learning process, isn't it. You are doing amazing! I feel your pain on critters in your garden. We have constant rabbit issues around here…. The baby ones can get through such small holes in the chicken wire it's crazy.
I love seeing the updates on winter sowing. Got a late start with mine (7A/7B) due to wonky weather, but so far so good. I know what you mean about those who don't sprout. When you're doing an assembly line, it's easy to finish with one unplanted packet of seeds and no prepped containers. That either means I double planted one packet or labeled, watered, and sealed another empty container. With your Chinese mustard, would it be possible to cut the bolted stem way down, mulch and water them? Any chance they'd revert to normal growth? If not, remove them quickly and replant the area with more mulch to keep ground cool. You're doing great!
I suggest you plant some borage seeds and scatter the marigolds around in both your gardens. They're great for attracting pollinators and discouraging the bad guys. Be sure to do companion planting and intersperse your tomatoes with some basil plants. Being close helps both plants produce better. Including flowers among the veg will do great things for your garden. One or two here and there is a great start.
Great idea with the pin wheels to scare the birds!
Ok so… Are the Chinese mustard flowers and stems edible? When my plants unexpectedly bolt I tend to save 2 or 3 for pollination and seed saving. If you cut them out you can put them in a bucket to use for plant tea as well.