winter sowing

[curlysue]

has anyone done winter sowing and have you had any luck with it?

[angelinaottawa]

putting my coleus seeds in flats now.
no germination yet, but hoping.

[Countryboy]

I got some Lupin seeds from Brianbythebay last summer. Started them in a *mostly* sealed plastic container last Xmas, and left it outside 'til the spring. I got abt 50% germination.

[curlysue]

angie ,I thought when you winter sowed ,it didn,t germinate till the spring?

[curlysue]

quess I was wrong...lol good thing I have you guys ,thanks angie and countryboy!!

[Lulu]

There used to be a really good article on wintersowing, here, on the forum; perhaps the mods can help find it, before the forum is "re-vamped"?

[angelinaottawa]

Hello,

My winter sowing outdoors won't germinate till spring. I put the coneflower seeds on top of the 4 big pots of tulips. Normally, it does get good germination rate, I'd say 60%.

INDOORS:

COLEUS SEEDS: Yes, I like to have something to do indoors. Will tell you that "Baby Coleus" finally germinated. Really tiny, but I'm very happy.
(mix of perlite, shredded moss and vermaculite)
Just light, no heat. Light means shop light, 48" garage light that you can see at Home Depot website, I just hang it above the ceiling the in the basement.
Here is what it looks like:
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/4-diamond-plate-work-light/972629

My first batch of coleus seeds did not germinate in the window, so the light really helps. Germination was about 10 days.
My seeds was from ebay, believe it or not. Its from userid: lilolfarm and the company name is called Bean Acres Seed. Fresh Harvest this season, it says 85% germination on the package, but I think I got about 95% germination. Must be the LIGHT set-up. My husband is complaining that it might cost him more on hydro.
Using the dollar store window sill starter with humidity dome, or I think it maybe Home Depot.
It looks like this one:
http://www.veseys.com/ca/en/store/tools/indoorseed/sowgrowseed/sowgrow2?veseys=n339g67qdnn5e5ui36q6je7c90

Picture of Coleus Seeds:


HOSTA SEEDS: It is finally germinating now. No pictures yet.
Mix: equal parts of perlite, vermaculite and moss. Soiless.

No light, just on top shelf of the kitchen. Just normal kitchen light which is on at night from 5 pm till 8 pm.
Heat is on 24/7. Just "heat mat' from Lee Valley. It is of small size, since I don't plan on propagating tons of seeds. It germinated within 10 days. The seeds was from my nieghbors hosta, I believe of Hosta Longissima parentage.

The heat mat looks like this one:
http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?cat=2,43224&p=44602

CONTAINER: one of those transparent containers of ready cut fruits and veggie tray.