Hi All,
I'm itching to get some jugs going for fall sowing but I'm not sure if it's too early. We're still getting up to 90 most days. I looked on the "the seed site" and saw that it says fall outside in many places. Does that mean that I do the jug method as "outside"?

I'm in 8a.

Thanks,
Leslie

Leslie, you are not in my zone but if you are doing annuals I would wait since they can still germinate...you may be ok with perennials but personally I would even wait until it's cooler for them since it is warmer inside the jugs than it would be in the ground. Most information for fall planting is in the ground. Just my opinion of course, maybe someone from your zone will chime in too.

Here in 6-A I put hardy seeds out more or less the 1st of the year. Tender seeds go out March or April.

Thank you! I'll content myself with garden clean-up and winter prep for now.

@lalambchop1 Leslie, I agree with what's written by others. I tried winter sowing three winters ago with mixed results. My major difference, with most other places is that I don't have any standing snow for too long. Perhaps three days at the most. I somehow feel that w.s is particularly suited for the heavy winter type of climates. Instead I do something similar but much later in the season I sow my pots about 8 weeks before the warming up of spring.I'm doing that just now with many of the N.American wildflowers such as Penstemons, Buckwheats, Lewisias etc. I sow my seeds in individual pots (4" wide) and cover them with Saran wrap and leave them under a cold shady place (I've a got a large Arizona cypress for that) until the stratification period needed is met. I have started earlier with other species that need longer cold periods: Erythroniums. These have a layer of fine gravel on top instead. Also I'm expecting that some of my pots might spend more than one year until they sprout. So I keep a seeding pot ghetto in just a corner of my work area and keep an eye to await any news. I keep hearing of others that get surprises even 4 years after!
Arturo

Leslie - Some seeds require cold stratification for a certain amount of time (Penstemons can take 8 weeks to 4 months of cold per JL Hudson http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/S..., columbines need cold...). My winters have been warmer the last few years so I've been trying to get seed requiring cold into the refrigerator by Nov1st, then I can take them out at the end of Jan and let them acclimate to my remaining winter/spring. Some traded seed may go in later, but I'm trying to just not plant any cold requiring seed after Dec1st. Usually cold stratification means cold and moist (so seed in moist sand, peat, soil mix - in a baggie or your jug). Baggies take less room and you can sprinkle your moist soil plus seed mix onto your jug of soil and water in when you take from the fridge.

I also try to keep my jugs in shade until January as we get some warm days during winter that could cause them to sprout if it in the sun. They'll live through the frosts in the jug but get too big for direct planting out from the jug and I try not to have too many I have to pot up before planting out (my spring is often cold and damp until late - not freezing cold just soil too cool to plant in). I also tend to put much more soil in my jugs than many folks so the early sprouters can live in them longer. Winter sowing does work in the warmer zones - it's just about adjusting your methods.

Some of my wintersowing pics https://www.gardenweb.com/idea... .

Hi Maggie, @faerygardener
I just ran across this since I have the itch to get seed sown. Your pics are so encouraging!