Just to make a point.

Last year, my rudbeckia cherry brandy were my first wintersown seeds to sprout. Here's a picture, through the milk jug hole, on March 10, 2009.

Karen

Here they are blooming in July (the red rudbeckia)

Karen

WOW! I'm so impressed! I wanted to try this and now I REALLY must try this!
Thanks for the inspiration.

louise

Welcome, Louise. I'm glad you like my pictures.

Wintersowing really, really works. This is my 5th year at it. And it's a whole lot easier than indoor seed starting.

Karen

Great picture!! I don't have a before, but this is an annual that I winter sow every year. Livingston daisy

Beautiful! I have a packet of those for this year.

Karen

Joanna and Karen--your photos are so beautiful. However, I want to plant everything I see, and I have only limited space. You all should not be such enablers LOL

...exactly why I give so many plants to friends.

Karen

Tells us that you have many friends, Karen:) Thanks for the pics...my babies are just starting to pop since I was a bit late getting them going this year. Doesn't stop me from hovering every afternoon when I get home. Like finding little surprise presents.

Mine are still under snow. More snow coming tomorrow night.

Karen

Karen, this thread is a good reminder for me to take some close-up photos of my germinating WS seeds, and then take a shot of them before planting out, and after they've filled out my garden beds. I've not done that before--a very good record it would be.
Can I go backwards in time and do this for the preceding three years that I've been wintersowing? LOL-- It would have been great to have had a photo record of my WS experiences.

How long does it take before seeds begin to sprout? I ws some about a week or two ago. Nothing showing so far. Wasn't sure how many days it would take them to pop up. I've made sure nothing dried out.

MollyD

Mollie, it can take a longer time that you might expect. . . depends on what your temperatures are like where you live. I sowed my first round of WS seeds in Feb. 9th but have seen no sign of green sprouts yet--nor did I expect to here on the Cape (zone 7a) . You don't actually want seeds to sprout too soon, and then be done in by a spring frost. Usually Mother Nature takes care if it just fine.

Hi Emily,

We have the same zone but spring has arrived here already! We're in the 50-60 daytime and 40's at night now.

Of course when I went back and checked I only ws these this past week LOL

MollyD

I love that red rubeckia

Molly, I never cease to be amazed at the difference between spring arriving in my Cape Cod zone 7a (last date of frost: May 25th) and in every other zone 7a in the country!
We did have temperatures today of 50 degrees F. It was so thrilling. (Going to be 36 F tonight.)
But you're right; your WS seeds will be coming up much sooner than mine. Sigh.

Molly, it depends what seeds you have sown, too. Some perennials are just slowpokes. Rudbeckia hirta sprout pretty early for me though. Snapdragon, petunia, and alyssum tend to be fast, but heat lovers like zinnias are alway late. Columbines take forever and a day, at least for me.

Karen

Columbines take forever for me, too. I didn't know/expect this at first. BUT last year I did finally plant out some tiny WS seedlings and I am fully expecting to see some larger ones in their place this spring. Fingers crossed, anyway.

Karen patience is NOT one of my virtures!!

Emily my condolences. For most of my adult life I lived in zone 4b and was really jealous as others saw spring way before I did. I know how it feels!

MollyD

Butterfly weed takes forever, too. I had a variety last year that I almost tossed thinking that it had failed...Found the pot shoved to the side and there was a little plant, yep...butterfly weed:)
I've got some sprouts from my Jan. sowing coming up now. I move them under my salvaged windows leaning against the brick of the house when things get dicey. Stuff like cabbage and poppies tend to fend for themselves.
Bev