I got lantana seeds this past winter from a trade and I too thought I would need to start the seed in December based on the thinking that it would take 16 weeks for germination. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) they germinated in 2 weeks! It was not in my plans to have them growing in December under lights! I was worried they would be stunted because they wouldn't be getting enough strong sunlight, and they would be too big come summer. They didn't grow like gangbusters indoors, and had fits and starts throughout their stay indoors. I did put them on a south facing windowsill on sunny days throughout, and never bothered with the hardening off process; they were fine outside. Bottom line, try anyways! If they are slow to germinate, they'll probably catch up once they go outside. My germination time was short BUT the germination rate was very low. Or, maybe the rest of the batch need the full 16 weeks, but I had 4 plants and that was enough for me. I didn't know what their type was, but they were the pink/yellow ones too.

Thanks for the tips - I'd love to grow container classics like impatiens and petunias, but from what I've seen they have instructions like "start 12 weeks before the last frost". I tried my hand in general at starting seeds this year with fairly good success, but based on my experience with geraniums I would steer clear of pretty much anything that needs to be started that far ahead (2-3 weeks is more my speed). The geraniums were successful (so far) but it was just too much of a nuisance - I'd rather cough up the $3.50 at the garden center for these. Right now I'm starting a few different morning glories, (the jury seems out whether these transplant well), cosmos and nasturtiums for planters - I'm hoping to use the MG for some small trellises and the nasturtiums for "spillers". I've also started alyssum, marigolds and dwarf dahlias - mostly for the garden but some ended up in containers when I ran out of space. OOS, I'll have to try the zinnias - I'm very fond of them but don't have room in the beds. Do you start them in the containers themselves or do you use a seed starting setup? Mark

I'm going to start small annuals in 72 cell trays outside when it warms up here. Hardy Annuals are already sprouted outdoors in underbed containers w/drainage holes and covered in plastic with vent holes. Seedlings are said to like about 3" depth of germinating soil. I did small annuals like Sweet Alyssum in communal trays last year and had a heck of a time separating roots and don't like to waste too much seed by planting little hunks of seedlings. Zinnia I sowed in clear 16 oz. cups since they're said to dislike root disturbance and their roots grow quickly. I'm not sowing them in shallow cells because of that. They had very long roots even in 16 oz. cups last year with only a couple sets of true leaves. Don't know enough to tell you if sowing them in shallow cells will naturally reduce root growth with adverse impact to plant or if they'll just circle a bit. You might need to keep close eye on APS water reservoir since you're have strong Florida sun. Same for vent holes if you're going to put the APS top on tray so they don't fry in sun. Don't know if you have place to put trays where there's "dappled shade" but that's what's recommended for seeds sown outdoors because little seedlings can't take direct sun early on. Dappled shade around me usually means having to move trays around all day as sunlight moves over trees. Might just rig up some kind of shade cloth tent this year. Hope someone from warmer climate with experience has more information for you. Good luck to both of us!

Depends on the seed. Annual seeds typically do not need to be cold stratified and the big seeds may even rot in cold wet soil. Either sow directly when the soil warms up (and dries out) or sow indoors around mid-March. They're not going to sprout unti lthe soil is warm enough. Larkspur and poppies sprout best in cool soil and do just fine if you throw them on the ground about now (if you have any bare ground!) You can throw them on the snow, but I don't know if birds would eat the seed.