Grrrrrrrr, my poor wintersowed seedlings!

For the most part, the Pacific Northwest has pretty mild winters... more like some of our less successful summers here! Carol can grow lots of perennial plants that would not make it through the winter in my Zone 3. I'll bet your winters in Wisconsin are worse than mine in Southeastern Alaska, Al.

Well that would be depressing, I would expect Juneau to be warmer-but not inland. We don't have the slugs of the Northwest, but even ours are 4 months away.

Hi Al, good to see you here.
Why don't you wintersow? It does work. Tho with my mishaps this year, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Between the slugs and then the wintersowed pots getting toppled over, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
But at least I know it works tho.
I bet you could do some there in WI. Get a jump on all your zinnias and other annuals.
Carol

I do have a lot of zinnias - should be close to 10 kinds again this year. I don't really seed any perennials as I buy them as plants. So how does it work that non hardy annuals can germinate in below freezing temps.?

I just had some dahlia seeds germ. They have 2 leaves!
As for the annuals, I have marigold finally germing too. No petunias yet. So some do work and maybe others don't.
I love the challenge to see if I can get it to grow and if they do, the package/trade price of the seed is so much less than the plant price.

I usually consider what the climate is like in a plant's native habitat. If it is tropical, winter sowing is probably not the best method. I winter sow those seeds that need special stratification because I haven't the time or place to deal with it inside. When Tom Clothier recommends 2-4wks of warm temps, followed by freezing temps, followed by gradually warming temps, I sow the seeds indoors, leaving them indoors for 2-4wks, then out they go onto the porch in a domed flat. I go out periodically and mist them, as need. I've had pretty good luck with that.

hahaha.... I saw that recommendation for some Dianthus glacialis... they sprouted indoors in less than a week! So now that "wintersown" container is downstairs under the lights...

But generally that's what I would suggest also, although I've also had good luck just sowing the seeds in WS containers and putting them outside when Tom Clothier recommends alternating periods of warmer & cooler temps.. I figure the freeze/thaw that happens in Feb. and March is about what those seeds need!

Yes, I've had similar experiences with seeds germinating immediately, rather than the supposed stratification requirements. That is why starting them under lights for 2-4 weeks, then moving the whole container outside if it hasn't germinated works best for me. This time of year, when I have hundreds of little containers, I haven't the time to baby anyone.... not even my DH, much less my seeds and seedlings. In many cases, this is a good thing, because I used to give up too early and dump the containers. Now, by moving them out on the porch, then onto the back table behind the greenhouse, they have months to germinate, and many do.