By Marcia Kirinus, NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer of Durham County
“Winter blues” topped Google’s most-searched topics this past week. With temperatures in the teens and gray skies day after day, it seems staying sunny can be a challenge for most. But here’s an idea: instead of self-soothing with a mug of hot cocoa or a bubble bath, try putting a few seeds in the ground. It might just transform your winter.
The promise of seed packets. (Image credit: Marcia Kirinus)
From the promise of the seed packet to the smell of warm, wet soil, sowing seeds can anchor you to something ancient and instinctive—something bigger than yourself. The ritual of dropping seeds into soil connects us to generations past and reminds us of life’s enduring cycle. It’s mindfulness in action, a simple yet profound act that encourages patience and presence.
Sowing seeds sparks creativity. Watching something you planted sprout gives a deep sense of personal achievement. In a season when everything feels still and lifeless, seed sowing offers agency—a way to push back against that stillness. You’re not just enduring the season; you’re creating something within it. Each seed you plant is a reminder that life continues, even when the world outside seems frozen in time.
Seeds of Slavia viridis germinating on a soil block. (Image credit: Marcia Kirinus)
Sowing seeds is also deeply symbolic. It mirrors hope, patience, and trust in the unseen. When you drop a seed into the soil, you won’t see immediate results. Yet, with faith, time, and care, something beautiful will emerge. It’s a powerful, meditative lesson in resilience and optimism—something a cup of hot cocoa just can’t offer.
Sowing seeds also connects you to the future. Each seed holds the promise of something bigger to come. During tough times, this simple act can be a comforting reminder that brighter days are ahead. And when the seed sprouts, you’ll feel a tangible connection to life and growth. Watching a tiny seed transform into a thriving plant is a vivid reminder of life’s resilience and potential.
Seeds sown today will be tomorrow’s beauties. Left: Small plants of Agastache foeniculum. Seeds were sown on January 18, 2025. Right: All grown up. A. foeniculum in the garden. (Image credit: Marcia Kirinus)
Even small interactions with plants—touching soil, smelling fresh leaves, or seeing green sprouts—can trigger a calming effect, like a mini escape into nature. It’s an antidote to winter’s gray monotony, offering both peace and purpose.
It’s still too early to cast seed outside. They need warm soil to sprout so go ahead and get yourself a nice plant light and tuck it on a shelf or over a table. The glow of the added bright light inside the house will help chase the blues away as well.
So this winter, when the blues creep in, don’t just hibernate. Sow seeds. You might be surprised by how much it changes your season—and you.
Resources and Additional Information
- Starting seeds Indoors. University of Minnesota Extension: https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/starting-seeds-indoors
- Growing Flowers and Vegetables From Seed: NCState Extension, Pender County: https://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/2022/10/growing-flowers-and-vegetables-from-seed/
- Winter Seed Sowing in Milk Jugs: A Gardener’s Guide to Early Starts and Resilient Plants: NCState Extension, Beufort. https://beaufort.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/12/winter-seed-sowing-in-milk-jugs-a-gardeners-guide-to-early-starts-and-resilient-plants/
- Growing Microgreens Indoors: A Winter Gardening Adventure: NCState Extension, Beufort https://beaufort.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/12/growing-microgreens-indoors-a-winter-gardening-adventure/
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