I ss (spring sow) impatiens in my z:4 with great success so expect yours will do well. They are not frost tolerant so after the seeds have germinated I would bring them inside or cover them anytime the temps fall to freezing. Same for zinnias. Don't bring them in before germination or you may encourage early germination with the inside warmer temps.

Thank you!

I've wintersown impatiens with great success. Well, after my first try, that is, lol. First time, I got two little plants. After that, impatiens up the wazoo.

Last year, I WSed them in the last week of March. The year before that was 3/22, and I don't have my records handy for previous years.

First of all, I wouldn't even begin to worry until you get sprouts - you didn't yet, did you?! Then, as mnwsgal says, depending on the temps, if you are really concerned, you can bring them in or cover them. I've never done either.

Well, let me amend that. I've never covered impatiens specifically due to worrying about temps. About four nights last spring (late April) had very cold temps, and I was worried about a few things, so I just threw some blankets over my containers. But other than those extreme, unusual nights, I let my containers fend for themselves.

Good luck! I hope your first year of impatiens is better than mine was! But remember, if it is not, make sure you try again!

:)
Dee

Thank you very much Dee for sharing your experience with impatiens...I am feeling much more optimistic now! I only ws'ed them yesterday, along with some perennials hardy to my zone, so definitely no sprouts yet! Lol* I was tempted to chuck them out into the field, but I'm glad now that I left them in their containers to see what happens. I think since I sowed them so early, that I will take both of your advice, and cover them when it's supposed to freeze. Assuming they grow that is...I know there are raves about winter sowing on here, which is why I am trying it, but I think I'll still be skeptical until I see some signs of life in all those jugs and trays! LOL*

Thank you again! I have to say, there are some forums around the web where it can be very intimidating to ask a question, and I often feel dumb asking, but everyone here has been so very kind and encouraging. I appreciate that! :)

Since impatiens can often times reseed, I wouldn't worry about the freezing containers, but maybe next year I would wait a bit to sow them since they need warmth to germinate - like coleus, zinnias, and other annuals.

Good luck -

Carrie

Although I never Ws'd Impatiens, my front perennial bed was so full last year I didn't bother to weed early , when I went out to weed in June I noticed tons of tiny Impatien seedlings so I let them go, they were a very nice size by August and bloomed till frost.
So, I would say it would work great in your zone.
Like others said, perhaps your babies might need a blanket when the Spring temps dip down.

And remember, you won't need to cover the containers until you actually have sprouts. Freezing temps with no sprouts won't be a problem.

I don't think my impatiens even germinated until May, so the chances of a freeze then are slim - or let's hope so, lol. So you should be fine.

Good luck!
:)
Dee

I have done impatiens balsam with great success. I haven't tried the bedding plants. Are you sure you are zone 6 in NE Ohio? I guess it depends, but I would imagine you are zone 5.

When have your impatiens walleriana started to bloom in zone 6? I've never tried them, guessing that summer would be almost over before they looked like much.

That was my experience with coleus last year. I planted them out when tiny- barely visible. If you squint, you can see it at the white label. Note that the WSown cosmos were already in bloom. (The impatiens the were leftover store-bought ones given to me by a friend)
{{gwi:357391}}

Those coleus were barely noticeable until August, not pretty until Sept. Too long for me to wait.

Karen

bakemom - well, maybe I am thinking all wrong about the zone? I live close to the lake, in the snow belt, and most gardening books vary my area from 5 or 6. I usually plan my garden as a zone 6 but maybe I should go with 5 to be safe? It has the potential to get very cold here, but most winters the lake seems to keep us a little warmer. What do you think?

Karen - oh how sad! :( LOL* I was hoping to have impatiens throughout the summer as I have lots of shady areas that I'd love to have color in. I have never planted impatiens before from seed, usually I buy them from the nursery but in my area they are a little pricey, and I'd love to have LOTS of them so I hoped I could save some money with seeds. Maybe I shouldn't have bothered? :(

quilt mommy: I have no idea since I've never tried wintersowing then. That's why I was asking, maybe I'm full of crap.

Karen

I live reasonably close to the lake North suburb of Chicago, zone 5 / last frost date is May 15/ and have shady garden, most people usually start planting out their begonia, coleus and impatiens on Memorial Day weekend or possibly a week or two earlier if the spring is fine, which is not often.
Yes, I can WS many annuals including impatiens but they would not start blooming at least until mid July and even then it takes them a while to look gorgeous and bushy. So I would get gorgeous plants by end of August- Sept and then first Oct frost will do them in.
Kind of not worth it doing for me. So I start my annuals indoor, coleus and begonias are started already, tuberous begonias I start in Dec- Jan. I started pansy/ viola in Dec and they are pretty much getting ready to bloom. They are outside in enclosed Florida porch under plastic wrap, getting their share of our chilly weather. I will set them out in couple of weeks into protected spot and will plant out containers in early April. Pansy can take a light frost and I could always bring in few containers when the weather turns real nasty.
I will start impatiens shortly, mid March or so.This year my snowdrops opened as usual on Feb 20 so spring is not going to be early in my neck of woods.

Impatiens grows much faster than coleus. I grow coleus from cuttings. I use Trudi's jugs but plant a cutting or several put them on the window sill inside. I am not patient enough to grow coleus from seed.

i sowed some(?) impatiens double today. i had not checked number of seeds on packet while buying and when i opened the packet today there were only 9 tini-mini seeds. then i checked on top of packet and number printed was 10. may be one dropped while opening.

wish me luck! Will i get atleast one plant?

I've WS impatiens balsam with good success. I have also tried coleus and impatiens walleriana. But they didn't get big enough by the end of summer/fall. Probably won't try those last two again. Just not long enough season here where I live.
Duane