In the meantime, I thought I'd update on this year's winter sowing status. So far, it's been much less successful than last year when I grew my seeds in individual styrofoam cups. I'd say I've had about a 40% success rate to date;
The tomatoes have done the best (thank god) with about a dozen sprouts. I only have 2 zucchini sprouts and 4 cucumbers. My flowers didn't do so well either with only 1 borage, 5 oriental poppies, 1 columbine, and 5 hollyhocks.
There are a lot of things that could have impacted what happened. For instance, last year I used a soiless seed starting mix and this year I used a potting soil mix. Last year I had fresher seeds (for some) and grew them in individual cups versus a big growing bin. I decided to try the bins this year, as last year the seedlings dried out very easily and others have had great success growing in large containers. I could have also planted some of the seeds wrong...who knows. Maybe next year I will try a mix of different growing mediums and techniques to see what works for me.
In the meantime, I will need to resow some more seeds and hope they catch up.
The garlic is doing well too!
That big green bed of lushness behind my winter sowing tubs is a cover crop of hairy vetch. I am going to till that under this week and will plant my tomatoes in that bed when they are ready. Of course, I panicked again and bought 6 Big Box Store plants of "Early Girl" just in case my winter sowed sprouts didn't make it.
Even my Russian Fingerling potatoes are up! I have two 2'5" x 2'5" boxes of these this year with a few extras tucked into one of the beds. We'll see how it goes!
In sad news, my rhubarb didn't do well from last year and I have only 1 measly sprout coming up. Oh well, maybe that will turn into something. Some of my perennials didn't make it or are struggling and I've done what I can to help them and only time will tell.
That is part of the fun of gardening, every season is an ongoing lesson in what works and what doesn't.
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