Time for another update on the winter sowing experiment I started on February 17th with 7 Aunt Ruby’s German Green tomato seeds in a 2-liter soda bottle.
The bottle has remained in its safe place beneath the wooden steps at the front door where it can be safe from overzealous winds and flooding rains while still getting plenty of sunlight. Here’s what the seedlings look like today:
As you can see, 5 of the 7 seeds have germinated and are growing quite well. It is important to note that we have an unseasonably warm temperatures all winter without a single below-freezing period in the past several weeks. Still, these tomatoes are already hardened off, meaning that when the time comes they will be ready to go directly into the ground.
I had a second soda bottle available this morning and decided to start a few Amish Paste tomato seeds using the winter sowing method.
Again, starting with 7 seeds in the container, poking holes in the base for drainage and sliding the top over the base. In less than 10 minutes from start to finish, this winter sowing / soda bottle greenhouse is ready.
Even though we didn’t get much of a winter, I’m excited about the possibilities of using the winter sowing method to start seeds as it is quite in line with the simple teachings of Ruth Stout, a woman I respect deeply and strive to be more like.
