Dahlias, mostly, and Trailing Begonias. Pots would be outside (LARGE pots, not small ones), and if they'd need some sort of saran-wrap covering, that's obviously doable. Just wondering if I could do them now. Not expecting temps to dip below like +20F from here on out, but again, the pot is also large. My ground is workable near the foundation out to about 6' now (not applicable in a pot, but in case you needed it for reference or something).

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 am actually planting more this year than I have in the past. Have 59 containers and counting so far. Hoping to get at least 50 more planted and set out before the end of March. Some of what I have winter sown are cleome, scabiosa, holly hocks, several varieties of rudbeckias, daisies, coneflowers, clethra/summersweet, butterfly bushes, rose of sharon, delphs/larkspur, and snapdragons. Will soon put out many more snaps and lots of petunias and also wildflowers of all sorts. I have a plan in the works for a big project of wildflowers to cover this bank that slopes down to our riding arena. Ordered a pound of Bird's Foot Trefoil and lots of wildflowers from American Meadows to help with that. It's pretty ambitious for this "granny" so hope I can find the energy to do all that I want and still keep up with the flower beds around the house. Oh---and I did winter sow a pot of Buckeyes! :) Thought any self respecting farm in Ohio ought to have some Buckeye trees! lol So that is what I am doing. I am so glad that I can still garden with winter sowing with this long winter we are having.

Planted out: Poppies, Sweet William, Rose Campion, Larkspur, Hollyhocks, Columbine, Coreopsis, Gloriosa Daisy (only ONE sprout came up) Sprouted but not planted: Cleome, Echinacea, Amaranthus, Snapdragons, Petunias, Verbascum, Breadseed poppy, morning glory (most got killed by frost), and butterfly pea (again, ONE sprout). Also DH has one KY Coffee tree sprout up. No signs of life from: Poached eggs, Gerbera daisy, shasta daisy, salvia, celosia, catmint, Catalpa, Osage Orange tree, and 6 other flats of Ky Coffee tree. Some flats I know dried out or were eaten by dogs. Also have direct sowed: Foxglove and Bells of Ireland (no signs of life yet) and Cosmos (sprouted good, but then died). All in all, I'd say that WS was a pretty good success considering that basically I put the containers out on the deck in Jan and ignored them until March. I'm not very good at remembering to water.....