Plantagen company logo, Plantasjen

Sow in plastic boxes during the winter and get hardy plants for the spring

Grow your own

Planting vegetables and herbs in the winter in transparent plastic boxes that can be placed outdoors during the coldest season of the year is not only space-saving - it also produces stronger plants that can withstand a frosty night or two. Join the trend and start planting already this winter.

Sow in plastic boxes during the winter and get hardy plants for the spring
Liselotte Roll
Written by: Liselotte Roll

Swedish garden inspirer, journalist and author of books about nature, cultivation and animals, such as "Soil", "Grow for insects" and "Chickens as a hobby".

Plant lighting - facts and tips about grow lights and plant lights

Plant lighting - facts and tips about grow lights and plant lights

Are your indoor plants looking a bit droopy during the winter months? This is usually because the natural sunlight from the sun is too weak. With the help of plant lighting, you give both plants grown from seeds and potted plants the extra boost they need to thrive at home year-round.

Grow your own
So indoor all year

So indoor all year

Even those who do not have the opportunity to plant outdoors can enjoy the joy of growing and harvesting. During the winter months, extra light is needed to ensure the crops sprout.

Grow your own
Extend the growing season with pallet collar greenhouses

Extend the growing season with pallet collar greenhouses

What are the benefits of growing in a pallet collar greenhouses? Among other things, you extend the growing season—and protect your plants from deer and birds. It's both nice and easy to arrange yourself.

Grow your own
Greenhouses – everything you need to know

Greenhouses – everything you need to know

Let your inner gardener flourish, and extend the season with a practical greenhouse. Grow your own Norwegian vegetables, exotic plants, or protect your favorite plants from pests. With a greenhouse, there's a greater chance your plants will thrive and do well all year round.

Grow your own
How many plants can you fit in a planter box?

How many plants can you fit in a planter box?

With some planning and calculation, you can save both time and money by growing your own. But how much can actually grow in one plant box?

Grow your own
Greenhouse plants for beginners

Greenhouse plants for beginners

The summer can be short and unpredictable, and an increasing number of people are investing in a greenhouse to extend the planting season. The result is beautiful summer flowers for the outdoor space and fresh, flavorful vegetables and fruits straight to the table. Here are the tips you need to get started!

Grow your own
Many have their houses full of small plants in the spring, and look forward to the frost finally disappearing so they can plant them outside. Sowing outdoors in plastic boxes in the winter can be a good alternative if you want more space indoors. Plants that grow outdoors also become hardier. In addition, you get started with cultivation earlier, and the plants will not need hardening. In other words, there are many advantages to sowing outdoors in the winter. But how does it work? It is actually easier than many think.

This is how you can sow in the winter in plastic containers

Step 1: Prepare the Plastic Boxes

- Get plastic boxes with lids. They can be empty jam jars or other types of plastic boxes.
- Ensure the lids are tight so that mice cannot get in.

Step 2: Make Holes

- Make at least ten small holes, for example with a soldering iron, in the bottom and lid of the box.
- The bottom holes remove excess water.
- The holes in the lid will release condensation.

Step 3: Fill with Soil

- Fill the boxes with about ten centimeters of soil.
- Make sure the soil is thoroughly watered.

Step 4: Sow the Seeds

- Sow the seeds by sprinkling them over the surface.
- Cover with a thin layer of soil, perlite, or vermiculite according to the depth indicated on the seed packet.

Step 5: Prepare for Outdoor Placement

- Put on the lid. Now the plastic box is ready to be placed outside.
- However, it's better to wait a day so the seeds have time to absorb water; they can't do that if they freeze immediately.
- If there is snow, you can put a layer on top.

Important Consideration

- It is important that the box is placed in the shade and not in the sun, because the seeds need the right temperature to germinate.
- If the box is placed in a warm place, it will create an unwanted greenhouse effect, where plants grow too early, increasing the risk of them dying if the temperature drops drastically later on.

The seeds take care of themselves

It is very convenient to sow in plastic boxes during winter. You start by placing the seeds, and then they will take care of themselves until the beginning of spring. However, when spring comes, you should be more attentive so that the soil does not become too dry or too wet. If it is too dry, you can water or add more snow. If the soil is too wet, you can easily solve it by ventilating the box.

The plastic bags are outside

Do not be tempted to put the boxes in the sun or in a hot greenhouse. Let the plants acclimatize to the cold, wind, and weather. By being exposed to the weather, the plants become more resilient and will sprout at the right time. The plants will then not need to be hardened off, and can be planted directly into pots or flower beds. It is sufficient to repot and transplant early in the spring, when the plants are sprouting, as the nutrients in the box are running out and the plants need new and nutrient-rich soil.

What plants can be sown in winter?

Buying and Collecting Seeds

You can both buy and collect seeds from vegetables, herbs, perennials, and summer flowers. However, it is easiest to succeed with seeds that usually sow themselves.

Easy-to-Succeed Species

Here are some tips on species that are easy to succeed with, but there are also many more:

Vegetables

  • Arugula
  • Salad onions
  • Spinach
  • Lollo lettuce
  • Radish
  • Various types of cabbage

Herbs

  • Dill
  • Chives
  • Parsley

Plants

  • Poppy
  • Marigold
  • Delphinium
  • Cornflower
  • Columbine
  • Carnation
  • Lavender
  • Verbena
  • Decorative aster

Conclusion

The winter can often feel long, but suddenly summer is here again. Then you may stand there in your beautiful garden full of winter-sown plants and vegetables.

Good luck!

Topics:
Grow your own

You need help? Ask me!