Jenny check out winter sowing forum FAQ, easy way to get rid of your winter blues ;) growing plants indoor will take some effort and money- no matter how easy your set up is, also watering and damp off could be an issue. Having said that I have my set up up and running and presently growing bunch of plants. I am in zone 5 so my timing is calculated for my zone. Majority perennials won't bloom first year so you can start them anytime but realize that once your plants start growing they will need more space and light, I have been known to run out of space by mid Feb ;) Lots of annuals will start blooming in 10-12 weeks, some will take as long as 20-24 weeks to bloom- those are usually more expensive annuals/ tender perennials sold in stores. Reseach plants you want to start, time accordingly. Lets say you want pansy. Time to flower from seed mostly 12 weeks. Give or take 1-2 weeks for germination calculate when you need to start it considering that while it will take some cold weather it needs some warmth to be put outside- so know your frost date, pansy will go out for me 1,5 months prior to my last frost which is May 15. I plant them in containers so in case of severe weather I could bring it in. Snapdragon- 16-18 weeks to bloom, likes cool weather. Impatiens-7-8 weeks. linaria 9-10 cool weather etc.... if you want to grow vine- consider that it quickly becomes tall and start twining so will need a support to do so.

Normally I direct sow, but maybe starting in containers outside could work. I would have to think of a place that gets enough sun, but not so much sun or the hatched seedlings will dry out for sure. I don't leave until 2nd week of Oct and normally things I have direct sowed are popping up within that 1st week, but I am trying some new stuff I never did before and this is fall not spring so maybe fall seedlings take longer. If I get my butt in fast enough gear I could divide the packets into 3rds and do an experiment direct sow, containers and the last 3rd when we get back home. Ohh to be so organized. Damn this working for a living, it so gets in the way! Lol.

Just read that elderberries are one of many berries that bluebirds eat to survive in the winter so I will be putting extra effort into growing these. I have a bunch of Eastern bluebirds t that show up here every fall and spend 5-6 months here before they move north. I plan to also order some dried mealworms to feed them. And some nijer seed for all the little goldfinches that have arrived. Any one else here spoil the birds?

I am so thankful for the VTs. Besides these 3, three others are still blooming plus Olallie Autumn Gold. I have a noid seedling going to bloom soon, 7 buds. Four of the VTs, Sophie, The Last Melon, Sept. Star, and .Sept. Autumn Fire will go for quite a while longer. It is a good thing in another way: every year I have less and less rebloom. This year I have none. I don't really know why. We get plenty of rain, I use pine needles which is good for the soil, etc. Belle Isle Sentry is the only one that does every year, but the last several years it hasn't put up scapes until mid or late September and by then it is too late and they get frozen before they bloom.