Events

Visit us at the Lexington Manor Passive Park Cherry Blossom Festival this Saturday, March 29, from 12-4 pm. And join us at 2:30 in the Lexington Manor Passive Park Community Gardens for our last winter sowing workshop of the season.

Now is the perfect time to sow vegetable seeds and native seeds that do not need the chill of winter to break dormancy. We will have a selection of native seeds to choose from.

Winter sowing is the process of planting seeds outdoors in a container during the winter months. The container remains outdoors until the seedlings emerge in the spring. The container protects the seeds from animals and harsh weather, but the exposure to colder temperatures breaks dormancy and the seeds germinate. The container also provides an ideal environment for germination in the spring.

The best time to winter sow perennials and hardy annuals is generally December to March depending on the weather conditions in your area. These seeds require a consistent period of moist, cold temperatures before germination occurs in spring. Tender plants including annuals and vegetables can be sown later in spring (March or April) as they do not require a cold period in order to germinate.

Containerized seedlings stay more compact and do not need to be hardened off before planting in the garden. Winter sowing is ideal for those with limited indoor space for seed starting. No special lighting or equipment is required for germination.