Yes, unfortunately you do need to protect them from snow and hard frosts if it goes on for weeks. Overnight, well that is a different story. The danger is really in a fast thaw, but do protect sweet peas from extended hard freezes. I have been growing them each year for many years; there are a few freezes here in No Cal, but they do not last; so prevention from snowfall is not necessary. They are cold weather hardy it is true, which is why they do so well in England; but they do protect them there from snow in cold frames. By all means, move them into the garage if you wish to; but keep it cool in there, too. They are best kept outside in the cold as long as you can, but if you are worried about snow, then the garage is the right place. They benefit most from long slow root development, so getting them into the ground asap or as soon as you can, is the goal.

Marcella ~ Nice list!! Looks like we both garden with similar colors in our gardens. And I'm a HUGE WS'er as well! I am interested in the following seeds from your list: Coreopsis 'Red Shift' Coreopsis 'Autumn Blush' Coreopsis 'Full Moon' Crocosmia (orange) Crocosmia (red) Aster 'September Ruby' Yarrow 'Red Apple Blossom' Yarrow 'Wine' Daylily 'Janice Brown' Snowberry Besh I have loads of varieties of Foxgloves and Zinnias I've recently purchased and/or harvested. I also have some Amaranthus Ponytails and I'll have to check, but I should have some Black eyed susan vine seeds left. Please email me if you'd like a detailed list to work out a trade. Thanks! ~Wendy

Hybrid seeds grow fine the next year. My wife handles the zucchini in the the family we each have our talents mine is tomatoes and peppers, eggplant and cucumbers. Anyway, she lets a zucchini grow to the size of a baseball bat and harvests the seeds. My wife is a big believer in saving seeds. I guarantee that hybrid seeds are not only fertile but produce very good offspring the next year. We have been doing this for years. The plants are vigorous and pretty true to form for example a white zucchini this year is a white zucchini next season too. Sure the genetics can be a little different but nothing you would notice at the dinner table. As for the plants, opinions vary. You can till them under. But I pull them up and put them in the compost heap they rot faster. Otherwise in the spring you are digging up zucchini stalks they are very fibrous and I find they rot a lot better in the compost heap than in a garden bed. Plant winter rye grass where the zucchini was it is a cheap "green manure". Just my opinion, I welcome other opinions.

I agree with Al completely... They would need a significant hardening off process, and if your Z8 is like this Z8 where the weather can be unpredictable into March, there is the chance you would need to move them someplace protected depending on the forecast for your area - which you would watch. I've sown them late summer/Fall and left them outdoors - germination takes place then in late winter and those seedlings which have germinated outside will withstand my late winter frosts.