The Montgomery County 4-H Center will host two winter sowing workshops in January, reported Joe Zlomeck for The Sanatoga Post.

The workshops are scheduled for Jan. 7 and Jan. 10, and both will take place between 9:45–11:00 AM. They are free and open to the public; attendees do not have to have any prior gardening experience.  

The workshops, sponsored by Montgomery County’s Master Gardners, will be presented by experts in seed sowing. Lori Curtis and Sandie Menke are both trained and certified.  

The traditional practice of winter sowing is used for perennials, trees or shrubs or some annuals that are resistant to frost according to the website Northern Gardener. The seeds are sown in the winter so they have time to rest before germinating in warmer temperatures. Growing With Plants.com says that this method works best for plants that need a long pause in conditions that are cold and moist.  

There are plenty of benefits to winter sowing. It eliminates the need to harden off the seedlings, requires less labor, gives a gardener more space, is cost effective, and decreases the chance of disease, according to Plant for Success.com.

There are, however, some cons, depending on the type of gardener.

Since seeds don’t germinate until its 70 degrees, according to the blog Green-Talk, it’s not the best method for the less patient types. Also, the soil could dry out, depending on the weather, climate, and location.  

Read more about the workshop according to The Sanatoga Post.