Winter Sowing Cauliflower Seeds in Zone 6/7

Much like broccoli, the process of winter sowing cauliflower, growing and learning to enjoy it has been a rough and bumpy road. I don't like eating it, but at the same time, I know that it's probably healthier than eating a dozen buffalo wings dripping with creamy ranch sauce. Ugh, that sounds delicious, doesn't it?…

Winter Sowing Lavatera Flowers in Zone 6/7 Cut Flower Garden

Sometimes known as garden mallow, lavatera flowers bloom on compact plants. These flowers closely resemble that of hollyhocks, but come in a much more narrow range of colors. Winter sowing lavatera is ridiculously easy, and will definitely yield some wonderful results if grown in the right climate. The level of cold tolerance of lavatera plants…

Blanket Flower Seeds

Winter Sowing Bupleurum Flowers in Zone 6/7 – Cut Flowers

Hardy annual bupleurum flowers are a great addition to the cut flower garden. Winter sowing bupleurum is an insanely easy way to grow this beautiful plant, especially if you're trying it for the first time. In general, these plants are pretty cold tolerant. Here in zone 6, I can successfully overwinter them in the garden…

Winter Sowing Cabbage in Zone 6/7

I don't have the best record with growing cabbages. In fact, the whole process is still somewhat confusing to me. Do you plant it in the fall or do I start winter sowing cabbage? I've tried both methods of planting and have had mixed results. Fall planted cabbages are appealing in that the size is…

Winter Sowing Chickpeas in Zone 6/7

For me, one of the main reasons for growing a garden is to focus on the things that I love to eat. Winter sowing chickpeas is a great way to ensure that I'm able to do exactly that. While I don't have the healthiest eating habits, I absolutely love chickpeas in any form. From stews…

Winter Sowing Echinacea in Zone 6/7

Winter sowing echinacea seeds has proved to be a great way to ensure success in my yard. While I've never attempted to grow echinacea from seed using methods other than winter sowing, I can confidently say that it works! It makes sense that winter sowing echinacea would be a great way to get a head…

Winter Sowing Lavender Seeds in Zone 6/7

Lavender can be one of the most frustrating plants that I grow from seed. All over the internet, you'll see tales of growers who dream of rows of fragrance lavender, but have failed to get it to germinate. Fortunately for me, I had already discovered the winter sowing method when I first tried to grow…

Blanket Flower Seeds

Winter Sowing Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) in Zone 6b/7

Winter sowing blanket flower, also known as gaillardia, is a really great way to use perennial flowers to build cut flower gardens and landscape plantings. While going to the local garden center and buying perennials is super easy, it can also be ridiculously expensive. Luckily, for those of us whose mommy and daddy don't own…

Milkweed Seeds

Winter Sowing Milkweed in Zone 6b/7

Even though I focus a lot on growing cut flowers, every so often, it's nice to focus on pollinators. While I've heard that some people grow milkweed for use in cut flowers, I personally don't. The actual milkweed plant contains some pretty toxic sap which can cause all kinds of complications if it comes in…

Blanket Flower Seeds

Winter Sowing Celery and Celeriac in Zone 6b/7

Winter sowing celery is one of the best ways I've found to produce large seedlings. In general, both celery and celeriac seedlings have the tendency to grow painfully slow. Even when started under grow lights indoors, it may take them quite few weeks to finally reach a size large enough for the home garden. It…