By Jennifer Langille
Have you ever felt that itch to start gardening in the middle of winter, even when everything outside is covered in snow? Winter sowing might just be the answer you’re looking for! It’s a simple, affordable, and rewarding way to jump-start your garden and get a little closer to spring—even when it feels far away.

Using everyday items like water jugs, you can create mini greenhouses that let your seeds sprout naturally and thrive. The year 2025 will be my fifth time winter sowing. I have made adjustments to my method and learned along the way, so let me guide you through the process.
Why I Love Winter Sowing
- No Indoor Space Needed: Say goodbye to crowded windowsills and dining tables.
Natural Germination: Seeds sprout in their own time, mimicking nature.
No Hardening Off, No Transplant Shock: Seedlings are already toughened up for outdoor life.
Pest-Free: No gnats or damping-off diseases to worry about.
Budget-Friendly and Sustainable: Reuse containers year after year and minimal supplies needed.
Stronger Plants: vigorous early growth is the foundation for superior growth, increased disease and pest resistance later on.
What You’ll Need
Getting ready for winter sowing is easy, and you likely already have most of what you need. Here’s what to gather:
Containers: My favourite is the 4-liter water jug—it’s sturdy, translucent, and easy to cut. Other options? Juice containers, rotisserie chicken containers, or even resealable plastic baggies (yep, those work too!). Check your recycling bin or ask friends and neighbours if you need extras.
Potting Soil: Use regular potting soil—not seed-starting mix—and moisten it very well before planting. Potting soil has better drainage, along with some nutrients.
Seeds: Cool-season veggies, hardy annuals, and frost-tolerant perennials are perfect for winter sowing. Look for varieties labelled “plant as soon as ground can be worked” or those that you notice self-sowing readily. More on this below!
Tools: Grab a sharp knife or scissors, duct tape to seal your containers, and labels to keep things organized. (Trust me – label, label, label!)

Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prep Your Containers
Start with your containers. For water jugs, cut around the middle, just below the handle, leaving a small hinge so the top stays attached. Poke 5-6 drainage holes in the bottom. (I use scissors with a twisting motion, but a hot glue gun or drill works great too.) If you’re using resealable baggies, punch or cut small drainage holes in the bottoms of the bags.

Step 2: Add Soil
Fill the bottom of each container with 2-3 inches of moist potting soil. You want the soil to be quite wet. Don’t pack it down too tightly; seeds need room to breathe.
Step 3: Sow Your Seeds
Sprinkle seeds over the soil, following the depth instructions on the packet. Tiny seeds need only a light dusting. Keep in mind you will be separating the plants in spring, teasing the roots apart, so try to follow spacing directions as well.
Mist the soil generously to make sure it’s evenly moist. Label each jug with the seed type, both inside and out. Labels tend to wear off throughout the winter, so make a numbered list and take a picture showing the labels once they’re set out.

Step 4: Seal and Place Outside
Close the container and seal it with duct tape, leaving the caps off. Set it outside in a sunny spot. The top holes will let in rain and snow, keeping the soil moist.
If you use resealable plastic bags, zip them ⅔ closed and clip one end of the top opening with a clothespin for airflow. Support them between two raised structures (like raised beds) with sticks or dowels. I haven’t tried this method yet, but apparently the benefit is that you can more easily open the bags to check on them or water them, if necessary.

Beware of the long, heavy downpours we can get in early spring, and cover containers with a piece of plastic if necessary. Place the containers somewhere you’ll notice them—this helps you remember to check in occasionally. If the weather is dry, give them a light spray of water. This might sound like a lot of monitoring, but you will go weeks without tending at all – compared to twice daily for indoor seedlings!
Step 5: Let Nature Take Over
Now comes the exciting part: waiting. Seeds will sprout when they’re ready, usually as temperatures start to warm in late winter or early spring. Once seedlings emerge and grow 2-3 inches, open up the jugs. Keep an eye on the weather and protect them from any late frosts with a blanket overnight if needed.
Best Seeds for Winter Sowing
Here’s a handy list of seeds that work beautifully for winter sowing:
Cool-Season Vegetables: beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, kale, lettuce, onions, leeks, peas, spinach.
Hardy Annuals: bachelor’s buttons, calendula, cosmos, marigolds, snapdragons, sunflowers, sweet peas.
Hardy Perennials: bee balm, black-eyed Susan, delphinium, foxglove, lupine, poppies, swamp milkweed.
Herbs: chives, cilantro, dill, lavender, parsley, sage, chamomile.
There are many more! Don’t be afraid to experiment—some of the best gardening moments come from happy surprises!
Read all about the miracle of seeds here!

Real – Life Success Story
I first gave winter sowing a try in 2021, and I’ll admit, I was skeptical. But by May, I had strong, healthy seedlings ready to transplant into the garden. Watching those tiny plants thrive through snowstorms and cold snaps was nothing short of magical. That year, I grew snapdragons, cosmos, and foxglove. The following year, I added sunflowers, delphiniums, and cleome—and they all did beautifully.
In 2022, I planted my winter-sown seeds on February 5 and watched them endure snow and cold before sprouting beautifully in spring. By May, the seedlings were robust and ready for the garden. Some of my favourites included snapdragons, cosmos, foxglove, and zinnias. In 2023, I expanded my list to include some grasses, marigolds, onions and kale, among others.




A Quick Heads-Up
Winter sowing is very addictive. Once you see how easy and rewarding it is, you’ll want to keep planting “just one more jug.” My numbers grow exponentially each year. (You’ve been warned!)



Ready to Get Started?
Winter sowing is such a joyful way to keep your hands in the dirt and your gardening dreams alive during the colder months. Plus, come spring, you’ll have a head start on a garden full of thriving plants.
So grab some containers, pick your seeds, and let the magic begin! If you’ve tried winter sowing before or decide to give it a go, we’d love to hear about your experience. Share your stories and photos in the comments below.


For more gardening inspiration, stay tuned to North Shore Gardening Life. Happy sowing!
January, 2025
9 Responses
What a thorough, clear and informative article about winter/container sowing. I have tried this over the last couple of winters and although I am not half (quarter?) as diligent as Jennifer, (labels inside AND outside?) I have had success! My biggest mistake has been to forget to open up the containers soon enough, which led to some of my seedlings getting fried by that warm, spring sun. But I can attest to successfully transplanting from the jugs to my garden and enjoying kale, spinach and lettuces earlier than I ever did. And it’s such an easy, hands off kind of method for an absent minded gardener like me!
It is so great that you gave winter sowing a go, and have had success, Olga. Good reminder about keeping an eye on the containers once the weather starts to warm up. Yes indeed, it is so easy and hands-off!
This is just what I needed — thanks so much for sharing such clear and practical tips! I’d heard about sowing using jugs, but wasn’t quite sure how to go about it, how to maintain or what to sow. This is a great article! Definitely going to bookmark it and give this a go.
Michelle, I’m so happy to hear that you now feel equipped to try winter sowing! Happy growing!
I did not have success using this method last year, it was really disappointing considering the effort we put in (it was a project for school for my older son). Do you find you have greater success with some plants more than others? Do you have mixed results of the seeds within individual jugs? Should I use clear and not the white 4L milk jugs? It seems so straight-forward, so I’m mostly curious about whether when (if) you failed, you knew how to correct it! Thanks Jen! Keep up the great work 🙂
Hi Jill! Sorry to hear that you didn’t have success with winter sowing. First and foremost, the white milk jugs could be your problem, as they do not provide nearly enough (hardly any) light transmission. Translucent water jugs, clear juice containers or sealable baggies are what you’re looking for. Think mini greenhouse. As for plants, I’ve had a few not germinate, but not many. Grab some water jugs and give some of the seeds on my list a try!
Thank you Jen! 🙏
Hello,
Thank you kindly for the easy to follow information! The thought of giving the plantlings a little headstart and allowing them to emerge stronger and in tune with the surroundings gives me a beautiful sense of entering into a dance with nature. You suggest trying to plant carrots and beets this way as well and i was wondering what your experience has been transplanting them in the spring. It seems that the taproots of carrots or other root veg usually don’t like to be handled or moved. Have you found this to be different with winter-sown roots?
Hi Suzi – happy to hear that you found the winter sowing information easy to follow. Although I direct-sow my carrots and beets, I have read numerous reports of others successfully winter sowing carrots and beets. The main reason they’d be successful is that they are cool-season crops, meaning that they love the cold temps for germination. The fun thing about winter sowing is that it is so simple – why not try some jugs (you could even plant one jug with half carrots and half beets) and report back with your results?