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Hi Winter-Sowing Experts(esses) and Budding Experts(esses),
I live in Clinton MA which is quite literally 2 miles North of Zone 6 so that puts me in Zone 5(a or b?). I have never tried this old, tried and true method but, I am excited. I put out a 5-7 gallon clear water ex-water bottle that I cleaned with dishsoap and then put a half a cap-full of regular laundry-strength bleach when full of water, allowed to sit for about 10 min., emptied, filled-emptied x 3, and all smell of bleach was gone so I cut the bottom 1/4 of it ott and filled that part nearly to the top with seed starting mix. I spray-watered it so that it was damp all the way through and water dripped slowly from the 10-Holed Bottom. I then made 8 pencil poles for 2-3 onion seeds and 4 pencil holes for 1-2 Golden Acre Early Cabbage seeds. Then I labeled it with date, number of plants and type along with dates to maturity+date planted and sprinkled a bit of mix over the tope of the holes and gently tamped down to remove extra air pockets. I (FINALLY...I know, sorry!) sprayed it with a standard spray bottle with warm water and put it outside facing in open sun. I need to tie it to a fence post so that a gust of wind doesn't blow it over, which I will do first thing tomorrow...Oh, I left the top off after it was taped up with several bands of clear tape.
Now, here is my question...our last frost date is basically Memorial Day (May 30th) so have many nights left in the low thirties (4 in the 30 range and clear this week alone with daytime highs in the mid 50's. I did make sure that the soil had been hot when first dampened so that it would be warm when the seeds were tamped down and used luke-warm water when I sprayed it with water. Please let me know what to do when it freezes, as the "Stickies" seem to indicate that I need do absolutely nothing if it isn't a "tender" seeds.
Oh, btw..check out my trades list. I am open to anything which can be grown in Zone 5, especially in raised bed, so not particularly tall plants, love Celosia (Cristata--would especially enjoy a mix), heirloom tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, garlic bulbs, interesting herbs, Miniatures of veggies and other plants, flowers, melons, etc., you let me know what you have, and we will talk.(I'm really trying to get a garden together since we have a much smaller space for growing things now!\
Thanks for your help, you guys are super!
Sincerest Gratitude,
Thor
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