That's great, Pabas! Please post in the separate WinterSowing forum too. We have a friendly "Zone Wars" competition and it would be great if we could add yours to the total count for zone 5.

I think you guys may have Dee & I confused, but no matter, she's another vet sower from NE. :) Okay, Paradisa, here's my take for you in z5: All your perennials on the list can be sown now. Some perennials require multiple cold/warm cycles to break dormancy; astrantia may be one of them. If it doesn't germinate this year, leave the container outside someplace safe (cool, so it doesn't get toasted over the summer)and let it go until next year. Annuals: some do better with cold strat, some don't care. WS your datura and alyssum now. Digitalis, too (which is actually a biennial - may not produce flowers until next year; don't pull it out! They're worth waiting for :)). I would wait on cosmos until April or May - it will germinate when you have a warm spell, but succumbs to frost easily. Impatiens, if you are doing it outdoors, should also wait until at least mid-April. Nasturtium could be sown now; but I wait on mine until early April because the seeds are large and prone to rot if we have a very wet spring (which we usually do). All the rest of your annuals can be sown now. I think butterfly pea, which would be an annual in the north, is probably a warm germinator, and you might want to wait. Four o'clocks (annual in z5) I wintersow late, same reason as nasturtiums primarily, but I also think they're a warm germinator. Cannas (annual)can be done now or later. Canna is a tuber plant - it may or may not bloom for you this year; if it doesn't, dig and store the tuber the same way you would dahlias, and replant the tuber next year. Daisy may be perennial or annual; I'd sow it now. Dianthus barbatus, aka sweet William, is one of my favorites - a biennial or short-lived perennial, you can sow it now. Soapwort and rose of Sharon are perennials, Nigella and gomphrena are annuals, all can be sown now. Feverfew is perennial, iberis may be either, both can be sown now. Lantana is a warm germinator, I haven't had success wintersowing it early - when I try it again, it will be late April for that one, too. Moonflower vine has big rottable seeds, too; I'd wait until April/early May for that. Geranium, you should try to figure out, because if it's perennial, it should be sown now, if it's annual, you should wait. Hyacinth bean vine is the only one I'm not too sure about - it does wintersow, I just can't remember when I sowed it. Hope that helps! Kim, who is NOT doing 1000 containers this year, but who fully intends to make up for it next year!

Marcia is right. They do take sometime to bloom but they are well worth the effort. If you dont have lights you can start a few on a sunny window ledge. Just remember to plant them in a container that can be planted directly into the ground (peat pot) or in a container large enough that when you replant you dont disturbe the roots too much .. they dont like that :o) Laura

I will check the lily auction. It would be fantastic to have some of the folks here share with me. Glad to send what ever postage and envy in needed. Seems to be so much nicer when you sort of have a connection with the garden of someone else. Like a small part of them in your own garden. Thanks so much for the heads up.