Wow- I can't help wondering where you folks live- I am in Z 4 MN metro area. Our snow is melting today- but back to freezing day after tomorrow. Now- there are a lot of IFs involved. It is really hard to answer this question with any accuracy. But, in my zone 4 wintersowing experience- I would think- If you have sprouting now- and I mean you see green- and a lot of it- and if you expect to spend a chunk of time above freezing and see sprouts- and if you planted annuals or not hardy perennials to your zone - or quick germinating seeds- and if you expect some "quality" time with freezing weather yet this winter, you may have to think about insulating the lil sprouts from long times of freezing weather in a cold frame, or in a window sill with a blanket/leaf cover where house warmth will affect temp- or something like that... Seeds and sprouts are amazing things- and many sprouts will hunker down to wait out the cold as best as they can. We had sustained 70 to 80 degree temps last spring- and then 10 days of below freezing temps- and I did lose some half hardy annuals- and a few really early germinating ones do to freezing. But- some of those seeds were smart- and waited to germinate till later. I did not lose all of the seeds in those that started too early for the weather- a few in the containers germinated later- and although- I did not have GOBS of them- I still had some. It is really a difficult question to answer- many seeds like a freeze thaw cycle- and will know not to sprout- some may not know any better. I would do my best to keep them cold- move to the north side of the house or garage- make sure they are shaded- you don't want to add sun warmth into the warming trend- Here's hoping the best for you! Julie

I just put my containers out last week, around the same I did it last year. After I set them where I wanted them I tossed a good layer of snow over them for insulation, since we're still getting below zero temps here too. I don't know if it was necessary, but I thought it couldn't hurt. I haven't put out my tomato seeds yet(ran out of pots...I use 16oz styrofoam cups w/plastic rubber-banded over them.), but last year they went out with everything else. My peppers, zukes and cukes I start inside mid to late March, along with a few extra toms. I am WSing both annuals and perennials, but a lot of the seed is quite old. I thought I'd use them up to see what I get.

bakemom - oh you are so sweet, thank you! I will update my page when I am finished here...I live on the coast of lake Erie, in that sliver of Ohio that some gardening books say is a zone 5 and some say is a zone 6. We are in the snow belt so some years we get very cold winters and some we have warmer snowy winters. Those lakes keep us in constant amazement in regards to our weather! LOL* I did plant some zinnias but I will do the same as with the impatiens, and I suppose I'm really only out $3 if they don't live! :) I will go ahead with snapdragons then, because I wanted to plant some of those too but wasn't sure when to start them. Know anything about sweetpeas? I've never planted them but they are so beautiful, I thought I might experiment.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your macro pictures! I'm going to take some myself. Yours are the best macros I've seen so far (but, this is just my first year doing this!)!! I'm certainly not an expert, and don't be surprised if I'm corrected by somebody else, but it looks like portulaca to me. The stems are reddish (check) and the leaves are pointed (check). If it's not portulaca, it certainly has similar characteristics. Don't count it for a weed yet! Wait on the experiences folks to chime in!