What to sow now
January in Missouri
Winter sowing season
Every number with a December–February postmark can go outside now, in jugs or on bare ground. Start with the 60-day seeds (Nos. 2, 9, 10 and 12) so they get their full chill.
- Set winter-sowing jugs where rain and snow can reach them.
- If the soil in a jug looks dry during a dry spell, water it lightly.
- Plan to sow in spring instead? 60-day seeds go in the fridge by about February 9.
Ready to sow in January
February in Missouri
Last call for the long chill
Get 60-day seeds (Nos. 2, 9, 10 and 12) outside by mid-February. 30-day seeds, like the milkweeds, can go out through the end of the month.
- Sow 60-day species by mid-month.
- Fridge method: start 60-day seeds by about February 9 for an April 10 sowing.
- Start 30-day seeds in the fridge by about March 11.
Ready to sow in February
March in Missouri
Spring sowing begins
Wild Bergamot (No. 7) and Purple Coneflower (No. 1) need no chill, so they can go on bare, moist soil now. On warm days, open your winter-sowing jugs so seedlings get air.
- Open jug lids on warm days; close them on cold nights.
- Start 30-day fridge stratification by about March 11 for an April 10 sowing.
- Seed Club’s spring mailing ships this month.
Ready to sow in March
April in Missouri
Last frost and first sprouts
St. Charles County’s median last freeze is around April 10. After that, sow your fridge-chilled seed, and move jug seedlings with one or two sets of true leaves into the garden. Golden Alexanders (No. 12) starts to bloom.
- Harden off jug seedlings for a week before planting them out.
- Sow fridge-stratified seed after the last frost.
- Mark where you sowed milkweeds; they’re slow to appear.
Ready to sow in April
May in Missouri
Water the new roots
Keep new seedlings watered while they root in. Native perennials spend their first year growing roots, so small tops are normal. Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Ozark Coneflower and Missouri Evening Primrose bloom this month.
- Water seedlings during dry spells.
- Pull weeds around young seedlings so they get the light.
- Last chance to sow Wild Bergamot (No. 7) this spring.
Ready to sow in May
June in Missouri
Milkweed and monarch season
Milkweeds are blooming and monarchs breed in Missouri through summer. Look for caterpillars on Butterfly, Swamp and Common Milkweed, and leave the chewed leaves alone. That’s what the plants are for.
- Water first-year plants during long dry spells.
- Seed Club’s summer mailing ships: milkweed seed to hold for late-fall sowing.
In bloom in June
July in Missouri
Let it bloom
Coneflowers, Black-eyed Susan, Wild Bergamot and the milkweeds are in flower. Deadhead Black-eyed Susan if you want more blooms or fewer volunteers, but leave some seed heads for the goldfinches.
- Water first-year plants during long dry spells.
- Aphids on milkweed? Leave them for ladybugs or rinse them off with water.
In bloom in July
August in Missouri
Pinch the asters, plan for fall
Give New England Aster (No. 10) its last pinch before mid-August to keep it compact. Rough Blazing Star (No. 9) starts to bloom. Pick out bare, weed-free spots for fall and winter sowing.
- Last aster pinch before August 15.
- Choose sunny, weed-free ground for fall and winter sowing.
In bloom in August
September in Missouri
Monarch peak and fall sowing
Monarch numbers peak in Missouri in mid-September; look for them on New England Aster. Fall sowing starts now with Missouri Evening Primrose (No. 11) and Golden Alexanders (No. 12).
- Sow fall-postmark seed on bare, weed-free ground.
- Seed Club’s fall mailing ships this month.
Ready to sow in September
October in Missouri
Leave the stems standing
Let seed heads stand for the goldfinches and leave stems for overwintering insects and stem-nesting bees. The median first freeze in St. Charles County is around October 18. Fall sowing continues.
- Leave seed heads and stems standing through winter.
- Keep unsown packets cool and dry until sowing time.
Ready to sow in October
November in Missouri
Sow on bare ground
Once the soil turns cold, scatter winter-postmark seed on bare, weed-free ground and press it in. Rain, snow and freeze-thaw do the rest. It’s also gift season: the Winter-Sow Kit arrives ready for December.
- Direct-sow on a bare, firm, weed-free spot.
- Order holiday gifts by Friday, December 11; we ship by December 15.
Ready to sow in November
December in Missouri
Winter sowing opens
Many gardeners start their winter-sowing jugs around the winter solstice. Everything with a December–February postmark can go outdoors now.
- Save gallon jugs for winter sowing.
- Seed Club’s winter mailing ships this month.
Ready to sow in December
- Sowing window December to February, outdoors
- How The winter-sowing guide
- Start with The Winter-Sow Kit
- Sowing window March to May
- How Chill seed in the fridge first
- Start with Pick Any 4 packets
- Sowing window September to November, then winter
- How The winter-sowing guide
- Start with The Winter-Sow Kit or single packets
