Even in frigid weather, Mother Nature is taking care of business. Did you know that some seeds, like those of many native plants, actually need a period of cold temperatures to jump-start their growth ? Naturally occuring freeze-thaw cycles help break open the seed’s coat and improve germination (stratification). We can get a jump-start on our pollinator gardens by mimicking this process through wintersowing. This simple, inexpensive planting method doesn’t require any special equipment, and will yield a bounty of strong seedlings come spring!
After all, it’s not always easy to find all the native plants you’d like to grow, and purchasing plants can be expensive. You can produce a large number of healthy plants for just a few dollars, which is especially important in a pollinator garden, where it’s important to plant in masses. You can get 5-9 healthy plants from just one jug, making for an attractive cluster that will attract pollinators.
What seeds perform well with this method? Wintersowing isn’ tjust for milkweed–other pollinator powerhouses such as Joe Pye, coreopsis, anise hyssop, monarda and rudbeckia are just a few that thrive with this process.
To learn how, check out the video on our homepage!
