Northerner, I brought in my hot and sweet pepper plants (Bells, Anchos, Italian sweet, DArbol, Poblanos, Serranos) to overwinter, because I prefer not to sow them again if I don't have to-- indoors or out. I'd like to get fruit earlier on all of them next year. Peppers don't reseed for me.(Incidentally, I sowed all of these indoors last year...good thing, because it was an exceptionally cool summer) Tomatoes, on the other hand,reseed like the dickens around here. I usually pull up the volunteers now so I don't get any diseases. When I plant WSed Toms, I traditionally get fruit about two weeks after my SIL (who puts in store-bought plants). Once the weather gets warm, my plants have caught up to hers. And then, I'm getting fruit for at least two weeks after she's pulled her plants out of the ground. I am 3 miles from Lake Ontario, but I'm pretty sure other Zone 5ers that are not so close to a body of water WS Toms too. And if you saw anything on the Weather Channel about our storm last winter, you'll know this is not a warm place. Feb. is traditionally in the negative temps, often doubledigit-negative at night. Bottom line, you should do what you're comfortable with. But if you can spare one Tom seed or two, I suggest at least trying to WS them, to see what happens and compare. I won't waste room indoors on Toms anymore. I save it for the things that don't WS well for me. And some things, I've Spring or Summer Sowed, then overwintered indoors and it works really nice. I did this with Heliotrope, Bay Laurel, Gardenia, and Datura-- things that didn't or wouldn't WS well or at all here. This might also be a way to go for Peppers, although you'd have to plan a year in advance. Linda

WOW! You are way ahead of things in Nova Scotia. Two of my gardening beds are really waking up right now, but my pride and joy of winter sowing are the Blue Poppies of course and they are just starting to break ground. This will be their fifth year and that's good. YES!! The other perennial Poppies (Orientale) are also waking up and this will be their first year. I love the reds and oranges - all winter sown two years ago. Many, many plants haven't peeked through yet, but their crowns are sturdy which tells me they are just fine. A lot of the property is a slope facing north which causes me to be behind a bit. I started bulbs last year so the Daffodils are peeking as well but today I had quite the surprise. DH called me over to a garden to ask what 'that thing is??'. The Fritillarias are up!! They look like monsters breaking ground. Looking forward to this for sure! I know every feeling you write of and take great pleasure as you do in all of them. :O)

Crazy Gardener: I was not able to locate a forum with the exact name you quoted. The Seed Exchange site is by default, American, and we cannot post there because we are not allowed to trade with them because of postal regulations. Similarly, we cannnot post on the Native Seed site because that also is, by default, American. If you click on the section called 'Canadian Forums' you will find a 'Canadian Garden Exchange'in which there are all Canadian postings. That's where I got some seeds last winter. Hope this helps. Northerner.

The link for the Canadian Exchange is below. I don't see any difference in WS (winter sowing) seeds and regular swaps either. I just finished organizing a big seed swap at the Canadian Exchange board ... lots of participants and a great variety of seeds. Here is a link that might be useful: Canadian Garden Exchange