While doing research for our upcoming Seed College presentation at the end of the month, I came across a new-to-me term, “seed sitting,” which is a catchy term for sowing seeds outside in winter, in pots covered with wire mesh. The concept is not new, but the terminology is catchy.
I first heard the term “seed sitting” while listening to a webinar by Dorte Windmiller, butterfly ranger, pollinator garden consultant, and nature photographer in Toronto.
In her presentation, Dorte mentions the “Seed Sitters” webpage, which was created by the David Suzuki Foundation to introduce gardeners to an inexpensive and simple way to grow native plants in the winter on a balcony on in a backyard.
Source: Seed Sitters – David Suzuki Foundation
Many native seeds need cold moist stratification need cold moist stratification to soften the seed coat and awaken the seed from dormancy. Sowing native seeds outside in winter allows the seeds to experience the cold moist stratification naturally.
Source: Seed Sitters – Butterfly Lady Photo: Suzanne Tilton
For more information, also check out the University of Maryland Extension webpage devoted to collecting and propagating native seeds.
Source: Collecting & Sowing Native Plant Seed | University of Maryland Extension Photos M. Boley, UME
But wait! There’s more. The Wild Seed Project also has a wealth of information on this method.
Source: Autumn and Winter Seed Sowing in Six Easy Steps — Wild Seed Project