An Alternative to Seed Starting Indoors

Read more to discover the Winter Sown method of seed starting.  The pictures are of a milk jug seed container cut in half, then taped shut until the weather was warm enough to expose the seedlings to the elements. 

Usually gardeners begin seeds indoors to get an early start on the next season.   The standard process is to start the seeds the appropriate number of weeks for each variety so they reach the transplant stage when the danger of frost is past.  If you are not blessed with a greenhouse there is also the investment in grow lights and an space for this activity.  This can be difficult or impossible for some gardeners who are either not home during the appropriate months or do not have the space. 
 
There is an alternative; the winter sowing method.    This is a method developed and well documented by Trudi Greissle Davidoff who lives in the state of New York.  She developed it because she lived in a small cottage, had a cat who liked to dig, and loved to trade seeds and grow her own.  She experimented with trying to start seeds outdoors.   
 
This past winter/spring I used her method and found it easy to follow.  I planted kale, spinach, bok choi, and zinnias and placed them in covered containers outside in February.  The cool season plants did well; they emerged in mid-April and were ready for transplanting in late-May.   Neither sub-zero temperatures nor snow caused them harm.  We had generous spring rains and I only had to water them a few times to keep them moist.  I also removed the top on warm days and replaced it when temperatures went below the freezing point.  Since they were outside there was no need to acclimate them before transplanting in the garden.  The zinnias did not germinate which was to be expected since they require high temperatures that are not available outdoors in our early spring.  
 
The best seeds for this method are those that are either native perennials to our area or those considered cold hardy.  If you want to try this method, check out the website www.wintersown.org   and follow the instructions.