Winter Sowing in Calgary
Submitted by Jill Swingler, Events Coordinator
While the flower beds and vegetable patches have long been put to bed, winter is the time of year when gardeners start dreaming of the new growing season.
Seed catalogues become dog-eared, garden layouts are sketched on scrap pieces of paper and favourite plant books are stacked high on coffee tables. We reference our notes, pictures, and memories to help us decide where the plants should go. We ask ourselves “when did I last add compost to that bed?” or “do you think the raspberries would do well over there?” or “I wonder if I could grow peppers in that sunny patch?”
Dreaming and planning leads to seed starting, and for many gardeners January and February are the beginning of the growing season: the indoor growing season.
For me, a self-labeled lazy gardener, it took only one attempt at indoor seed starting to know it was not for me. My house is chaotic: kids, dog, working adults, nightly activities, a messy kitchen, and piles of clutter. Needless to say, my husband raised an eyebrow when I started seeds indoors on our kitchen window ledge. I managed to tend the seeds through their germination stage, but as they began to sprout, I realized indoor seed starting was more work than I was willing to commit to.
When the next winter rolled around, I was determined to try seed starting again, but this time it would be different because I had learned that you can start seeds outdoors in January, even in Calgary! Simply do an online search for “milk jug greenhouse” and you’ll be well on your way to winter sowing.
This is a fantastic activity for families and even day-home providers to do with their children. The wonderful thing about winter sowing outdoors using this method, is that it is well suited for the lazy gardener. Make milk jug greenhouses, plant seeds, set milk jugs outside, and watch while nature work its magic.
I’d love to know which seeds you’re starting this year. We have a wealth of knowledge at the Acadia Community Garden and Art Society, so please reach out with questions or suggestions.
Materials needed for milk jug greenhouses:
- 4L milk jugs – one for each kind of seed
- Potting soil
- Seeds of cold weather vegetables or flowers (ex. spinach, kale, chard)
- Scissors or utility knife
- Duck tape to tape the greenhouse shut
- Permanent marker to label your greenhouses
Pumpkin seedling in a milk jug greenhouse. Started early-April and transplanted May 28.
Planting plans.
