This is turning into a very weird weather year for many of us. Because of that, it's hard to give you an absolute answer. Be aware that no matter what any of us tell you, it's nature that has the final answer in when those seeds will sprout. My best guess is that it's probably fine for perennials hardy to your area, and hardy annuals too. I'd definitely wait for anything tender. And if perennials and hardy annuals would sprout early, they have a much better chance of survival in their containers. And keeping them in a shady spot is definitely a good idea until spring is in the air. This is probably our coldest part of winter most years, and it's when I sow my hardy annuals and perennials. I sowed my first jugs a few days ago. I'd go for it if I were you. The chance that they'll sprout in shade is minimal I think, and winter might just stay mild this year. Karen

I sow perennials and hardy annuals thru the winter and wait until March'ish to start cool season veggies: broc, lettuce, chard, ect.. Heat loving tender veggies: tomato, pumpkin, melon and tender annuals usually hold off until mid April early May. A few times I got impatient and started things like Zinnia, Tithonia, Marigold and tomatoe 2-4 weeks too early and paid the price :) Vera

Hi, elctj! You will love it here - and with that much land, wintersowing will be perfect for you! Until I got to be an adult with a home of my own, I was an "on and off" gardener. My Dad was really into it, and I pretty much worshipped him, so we did some gardening together when I was a kid. Fell out of it in my teens and early 20s. Mid-20's, with house & kids of my own, I got back into it. When we moved to the southcoast of MA in 96, we bought a house with great windows, and I got back into growing things from seed. Never had a light set-up, but was able to get a goodly amount to grow in the windows; legginess and damp-off loss notwithstanding. The week I learned about the WS Forum (on another garden forum site) coincided with the time DH walked around my transplanted tomatoes, peppers, and flowers that were waiting to be hardened off, and murmured "It's a jungle in here." Once I found out that growing seeds outside works for nearly every seed I can think of, provided you time it right (tropicals, too, you just have to start some of them later), I never looked back. I still start some things in my windows in February, because I have to see green. LOL, they still get leggy (it's too early to start seeds indoors in Feb in MA, they should be started in March!), and I still fight damp off. I've limited myself to two flats, though, and that provides enough transplants to feed my need for early green without turning the whole house into a jungle. I depend on WS for 98% of what I grow.

Hi Brent - I am just a state down below you in North Carolina and I do alot of Spring and Summer sowing. I use mostly cell packs. I still cover the seed trays till they germinate then uncover them. I use trays that will hold water and keep about 1/2" of water in them and bottom water - if the tops start to look dry I will top water also but generally the bottom watering keeps everthing moist. I also have a shade house that I keep them in. We seldom go on vacation (our back yard and gardens are our vacation) so I can keep on top of them every day plus my husband and I are retired - this is what we do 24/7. I hope that helps some..... Lynne