12/11/2025
A lot of you saw me direct sow my native seeds about a week ago… but here’s the part I always do behind the scenes: I tray sow them too.
You can absolutely do one or the other, but doing both is a really common practice with natives and honestly, it’s my little insurance policy. Direct sowing gives them the most natural stratification. Tray sowing gives me a backup, a bit more control, and a second chance if critters, weather, or timing don’t go my way.
For trays, I keep it simple.
I use aluminum roasting pans that are at least 3” deep and poke drainage holes with a screw, just enough, not too many. I add about 2” of potting mix and tamp it down so there aren’t air pockets and so the seeds don’t get displaced by winter rain and snow.
If I’m sowing multiple varieties in one tray, I just make little soil divots as dividers, no extra materials needed. Then sow, label (twice if you’re forgetful like me), and always use an oil-based paint marker because it’s literally the only thing that survives the elements.
We cover our trays with wire mesh to keep birds from rooting around, and then we set them outside all winter, no covering, no watering, no protection. Not under a roof, not where gutters drip, not in a warm pocket. They need real winter: the cold, the moisture, the freeze–thaw cycles.
That’s the whole process. Direct sow plus winter sow trays equals peace of mind and better odds for a strong native garden next spring.
