Winter Sowing in Cold Climates: The Growing Season Begins

Winter sowing in Zone 5b | Cold-climate seed starting at Serenity Hill Flower Farm, Harvard, Illinois

There is something deeply comforting about planting seeds in the quiet of winter. Here at Serenity Hill Farm in Harvard, Illinois (Zone 5b), winter sowing has become one of my favorite ways to begin the growing season long before the fields wake up in spring. While the garden may be resting under snow and ice, hope is already taking root. One of my favorite ways to begin a new growing season, especially here in a cold climate, is through winter sowing.

Winter sowing is simple, forgiving, and beautifully aligned with nature. It invites you to trust the seasons rather than fight them, and it’s a wonderful way to get your hands in the soil long before spring arrives.

What Is Winter Sowing?

(Cold-climate seed starting explained)

Winter sowing is a seed-starting method where seeds are planted outdoors in covered containers during the winter months. The containers act like mini greenhouses, protecting seeds while still exposing them to natural temperature fluctuations, moisture, snow, rain, and sunlight.

As winter slowly turns toward spring, the seeds germinate when conditions are just right. No grow lights. No heat mats. No elaborate setup. Nature handles the timing.

Why I Love Winter Sowing (and Why It Works So Well in Cold Climates)

There are so many advantages to winter sowing, especially for gardeners in colder zones:

• Seeds naturally experience cold stratification, which improves germination

• No indoor seed-starting equipment is required

• Seedlings grow stronger and hardier from the start

• Very little hardening-off is needed

• It saves precious indoor space

• It’s low-maintenance and wonderfully forgiving

Winter sowing feels less like managing plants—and more like partnering with nature.

Containers for Winter Sowing: You Don’t Need Anything Fancy

You’ll often hear about the classic milk jug method, and it truly does work. But here’s my honest truth: I don’t regularly buy milk, so I don’t have milk jugs piling up.

What I do have plenty of are empty spinach and salad containers—and they have been incredibly successful for winter sowing. They’re clear, sturdy, already hinged, and easy to ventilate.

Other great container options include:

• Milk jugs

• Clear or semi-clear salad or spinach containers

• Rotisserie chicken containers

• Produce clamshells

• Take-out containers with clear lids

If it once held food and lets light in, chances are it can work.

My winter sown seeds in empty spinach containers.

Best Soil for Winter Sowing (and Why You Don’t Need Fertilizer)

For winter sowing, use a lightweight seed-starting mix or fine potting soil. Avoid garden soil—it’s too heavy and doesn’t drain well in containers.

At planting time, do not add fertilizer. Seeds contain all the nutrients they need to germinate. Fertilizer can actually damage young roots. Feeding can come later, once seedlings are established and growing outdoors.

Best Seeds for Winter Sowing in Zone 5b and Cold Climates

Not all seeds are created equal, and some truly shine when winter sown. Below are some of my favorite options, with ⭐ marking those that are especially great for beginners.

Flowers ⭐ = Great for Beginners

• Poppies ⭐

• Bachelor’s Buttons ⭐

• Calendula ⭐

• Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) ⭐

• Hollyhock ⭐

• Larkspur

• Sweet Peas

• Foxglove

• Echinacea

• Delphinium

Herbs ⭐ = Great for Beginners

• Parsley ⭐

• Cilantro ⭐

• Dill ⭐

• Chives (including garlic chives) ⭐

• Thyme ⭐

• Oregano ⭐

• Chamomile ⭐

• Lemon balm ⭐

• Sage

• Lovage

Vegetables ⭐ = Great for Beginners

• Lettuce ⭐

• Spinach ⭐

• Kale ⭐

• Beets ⭐

• Carrots ⭐

• Asian greens (bok choy, tatsoi, mizuna) ⭐

• Broccoli

• Cauliflower

• Cabbage

• Brussels sprouts

Step-by-Step: How to Make a Winter Sowing Container

Creating a winter sowing container is easy and takes just a few minutes:

1. Add drainage holes to the bottom of your container

2. Add a few small ventilation holes to the lid or top

3. Fill with 3–4 inches of pre-moistened potting soil

4. Sow seeds according to packet instructions

5. Label clearly (this matters more than you think!)

6. Close the container securely

7. Place it outdoors in an open area exposed to snow and rain

Then—let winter do the rest.

What to Do When Winter-Sown Seeds Begin to Grow

As the days lengthen and temperatures warm, you’ll start to see condensation inside your containers—one of my favorite signs that something magical is happening.

When seedlings appear:

• Open containers slightly on warm days for airflow

• Remove lids completely once seedlings are established and severe cold has passed

• Keep soil moist, but not soggy

• Transplant seedlings outdoors when the soil is workable and plants are sturdy

The seedlings you grow this way are tough, resilient, and ready for life in the garden.

A Final Thought from the Farm

Winter sowing reminds me that gardening doesn’t begin in spring. It begins with intention, patience, and trust. It’s a quiet act of hope during the coldest months of the year.

Whether you use milk jugs, spinach containers, or whatever you have on hand, the beauty of winter sowing is its simplicity. You don’t need perfection. You just need seeds, soil, and a willingness to let nature lead.

About the Grower

Jayne Jaskolski, PhD, is the founder of Serenity Hill Flower Farm, a woman-owned flower and egg farm in Harvard, Illinois. A lifelong gardener and retired professor, Jayne blends science, sustainability, and a deep love of the land to grow seasonal flowers, organic rainbow eggs, and abundant gardens rooted in regenerative practices. When she’s not sowing seeds, you’ll find her in the greenhouse with a mug of tea planning the next season.

Happy sowing 🌱