WINTER SOWING
Last year I was introduced to winter sowing from a good friend who showed how she was starting her seeds in milk jugs making little tiny greenhouses from them. I was intrigued by this method but wasn’t ready yet to try. It was only after this last year when I did not have one tomato or pepper grow from the garden that I decided it was time to try these mini “greenhouses!”
The idea is that you simply put them outside without the lid and let nature with its wind, rain, snow, and ice fall upon it.
So began our first attempt at winter sowing this year. Tomatoes, peppers, onions, shallots were planted. This was a perfect hands-on project for the grandchildren. Now let’s just hope it works!
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Gather and clean your milk jugs out. Throw away the lid as you will not need it.
2. Poke about 8 holes at the bottom of the jug for drainage
3. Cut your milk jug along the bottom except for about 2 inches at the handle itself, this acts as a hinge and keeps the jug still attached
4. Fill the bottom half of the jug with potting soil. Black Magic soil is recommended to use if you have it in your local area.
5. Make anywhere from 6-9 little holes
6. Drop a seed into the hole
7. Mist your seeds with water
8. Close your jug and duck tape around the cut seam
9. Label your jug with what you planted
That is it- really simple and easy. Nature will determine when they will sprout in their mini-greenhouse.
Here is our favorite Youtube video for more information.
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Julie
Julie Smith is the Education Director for the Joseph Smith Foundation. She is the former owner of the Glenn J. Kimber Academy in Lehi, Utah. Julie served as a regional trainer—establishing 18 schools in Arizona, Idaho, and Utah. She is a certified teacher for The Thomas Jefferson Center for Constitutional Restoration (TJC) and taught the Making of America seminars written by W. Cleon Skousen and Glenn J. Kimber. Some of her children also traveled across the nation, assisting in teaching during these seminars. Julie taught history and Book of Mormon classes for 10 years. Julie is the mother of 5 children and grandmother to 7. She homeschooled for over 27 years, working through family challenges including pornography addiction, testimony faith crises, and teenage rebellion. She writes and teaches on strengthening the family, working with troubled youth, practically applying the teachings of scripture and the Prophet Joseph Smith, and celebrating higher standards. In her spare time, Julie also enjoys gardening, managing her .5-acre homestead, and hosting Sunday dinners with her family! Her home is a revolving door of guests and friends as her family hosts cultural celebrations and teaching events.
