Butternut squash germination

Wintersown, of course. Any winter squash is a serious space hog, so I always try to grow them either vertically - or completely by themselves. Anyway, these seedlings are ready to be transplanted into the 4x9 raised bed next to the woods.

Dividing up more tomato seedlings

As the tomatoes continue to germinate in the wintersown containers outside, each is continuously put into it's own container to remain until transplant size. These two are Cherokee Purple, and will most likely be given to a friend later.

Putting flower seedlings into cellpacks

Since a couple of wintersown containers with flower seeds had germinated already, I went ahead and divided them up into their own individual cellpacks. Purple zinnia and Bachelor button are what these are - and in all, came to 90 individual seedlings. Since they had grown pretty long and lanky already, I went ahead and put them under lights in the shed for now. When all is said and done, there should be around 300-400 individual flowers to give away this year. Anybody want some?

True leaves

Some of the wintersown tomato seedlings are beginning to get their true leaves now, which signals a time for rapid growth in upcoming weeks. By mid-April, this plant will have outgrown it's container already. That's OK, it'll be in someone's garden by that time......

Dividing more tomato seedlngs

As more early girl tomato seedlings germinate, each is quickly put into it's own container for the remainder of transplant stage of growth. There's quite a few to go around now, and will gladly be handed out to family and friends when it's time.

Germination of zinnia

Some of the zinnia that were wintersown only 2-3 weeks ago have already germinated, and will be divided up in upcoming days for making their new home in cellpacks. It may become necessary to put them under lights, but we'll just have to wait and see. Anyway, there will be lots of flowers this year.

Wintersowing tomato seeds, part 1

Wintersowing is a method of propagation in which a person plants seeds in recycled plastic drink  containers (I use 2 liter coke bottles), keeps the soil moist and located away from direct sunlight - and when it's time, Mother nature will germinate the seeds for you. It's really simple. Just cut the bottle in half, make some drainage holes in the bottom. Fill that with soil, plant your seeds, slide the top half of the bottle over the bottom half, and add water weekly.

Leave cap off unless frost is expected, and bring indoors If temperatures get below freezing. Here's a couple of containers prepared a few weeks ago.

Jeff