Sow in plastic boxes during the winter and get hardy plants for the spring

Grow your own

Planting vegetables and herbs in the winter in transparent plastic boxes that can be placed outdoors during the coldest season of the year is not only space-saving - it also produces stronger plants that can withstand a frosty night or two. Join the trend and start planting already this winter.

Many have their houses full of small plants in the spring, and look forward to the frost finally disappearing so they can plant them outside. Sowing outdoors in plastic boxes in the winter can be a good alternative if you want more space indoors. Plants that grow outdoors also become hardier. In addition, you get started with cultivation earlier, and the plants will not need hardening. In other words, there are many advantages to sowing outdoors in the winter. But how does it work? It is actually easier than many think.

This is how you can sow in the winter in plastic containers

Step 1: Prepare the Plastic Boxes

- Get plastic boxes with lids. They can be empty jam jars or other types of plastic boxes.
- Ensure the lids are tight so that mice cannot get in.

Step 2: Make Holes

- Make at least ten small holes, for example with a soldering iron, in the bottom and lid of the box.
- The bottom holes remove excess water.
- The holes in the lid will release condensation.

Step 3: Fill with Soil

- Fill the boxes with about ten centimeters of soil.
- Make sure the soil is thoroughly watered.

Step 4: Sow the Seeds

- Sow the seeds by sprinkling them over the surface.
- Cover with a thin layer of soil, perlite, or vermiculite according to the depth indicated on the seed packet.

Step 5: Prepare for Outdoor Placement

- Put on the lid. Now the plastic box is ready to be placed outside.
- However, it's better to wait a day so the seeds have time to absorb water; they can't do that if they freeze immediately.
- If there is snow, you can put a layer on top.

Important Consideration

- It is important that the box is placed in the shade and not in the sun, because the seeds need the right temperature to germinate.
- If the box is placed in a warm place, it will create an unwanted greenhouse effect, where plants grow too early, increasing the risk of them dying if the temperature drops drastically later on.

The seeds take care of themselves

It is very convenient to sow in plastic boxes during winter. You start by placing the seeds, and then they will take care of themselves until the beginning of spring. However, when spring comes, you should be more attentive so that the soil does not become too dry or too wet. If it is too dry, you can water or add more snow. If the soil is too wet, you can easily solve it by ventilating the box.

The plastic bags are outside

Do not be tempted to put the boxes in the sun or in a hot greenhouse. Let the plants acclimatize to the cold, wind, and weather. By being exposed to the weather, the plants become more resilient and will sprout at the right time. The plants will then not need to be hardened off, and can be planted directly into pots or flower beds. It is sufficient to repot and transplant early in the spring, when the plants are sprouting, as the nutrients in the box are running out and the plants need new and nutrient-rich soil.

What plants can be sown in winter?

Buying and Collecting Seeds

You can both buy and collect seeds from vegetables, herbs, perennials, and summer flowers. However, it is easiest to succeed with seeds that usually sow themselves.

Easy-to-Succeed Species

Here are some tips on species that are easy to succeed with, but there are also many more:

Vegetables

Arugula
Salad onions
Spinach
Lollo lettuce
Radish
Various types of cabbage

Herbs

Dill
Chives
Parsley

Plants

Poppy
Marigold
Delphinium
Cornflower
Columbine
Carnation
Lavender
Verbena
Decorative aster

Conclusion

The winter can often feel long, but suddenly summer is here again. Then you may stand there in your beautiful garden full of winter-sown plants and vegetables.

Good luck!

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Grow your own