A way to get plants in the ground earlier in late winter or early spring is to combine the Winter Sowing Method with direct sowing.
The caveat is that seedlings won’t sprout or grow as fast as they would inside milk jugs because the soil temperature is still too cool. However, it is a suitable alternative if you can’t—or don’t want to—plant in milk jugs.
Also, if you live in an area with a very short growing window, this method can help extend your season.
This method is ideal for cold-hardy crops that can typically be directly sown in early spring.
