Hi Cooper, You don't have to winter sow anything. But we winter sowers become addicted because the method works beautifully! Winter sowing is great because your seeds don't wash away, blow away, get eaten by bugs and other critters, the seeds are easily identified and kept track of for the most part. Direct sowing still has its moments though. Personally, I think larkspur actually does better direct sown. I also direct sow bachelor buttons,and nigella (love in a mist). My seeds from these plants have already germinated and are thriving despite the snow and dips into the teens that we have had. If any of these seeds are on your list, I'd go ahead and get them out there. They will germinate in their own good time and will survive any weather. From my understanding the seeds I just mentioned like to be sown in the fall anyway. So feel free to get them out as soon as you see bare ground. Natvtxn has a great idea of looking up the seeds on the internet. Also a great idea to throw some out and maybe holding some back for winter sowing or regular under lights sowing or maybe try all 3 methods...whatever you want. Gardening is always a learning experience.

Letting you all know that I am obtaining some nice quantities of seed for the Following Assam Bhut Jolokia, Chocolate Bhut Jolokia, Naga Morich, Trinidad 7 Pot, Trinidad Scorpion and the rare Malaysian Habanero Goronong. Contact me through my website and I will send you a word doc that will give you all the information. I am paying quite a bit to get pure seeds but may re-sell to make a little profit. Yes my seed is from overseas and just let me point out that all overseas seed can be confiscated if you do not have the necessary customs paperwork. So I am taking that risk until I get paperwork done which takes forever. Now heres other good news. I will be selling some plants. You do know these plants do not germinate well. So think about plants as an option to seed. Also I have the ability to create plants from cuttings. So as long as I get a few going I will have plants. Now if you are willing to wait I will have fresh chiles too. Then you can just take out your own seeds. So you can buy seeds from fatalii.net or UKchile seeds and take a risk or let me take the risk for you. By the way Reimers seeds resells for UK and I will not charge what they charge. You can contact me at jpdherb@cox.net or go to my site. God Bless! Jim Here is a link that might be useful: Refining Fire Chiles

Morning all, I'm glad to see that people are posting about their seeds making it home. I did a quick check on dc#s this morning and most have been received just note posted yet. Alana, come on! You are one of the best here on the garden web. I'm happy that I could come up with some things to send you! As far as the extras sent, I have waaayyyy to many seeds and needed to reduce my stash. I think everyone got back at least 8 or 9 extra packets. I'm not sure if you remember but I garden for $$ in the nice weather. I had been keeping all my seeds and the bosses seeds seperate.A while back I asked him what he wanted to do with the extras and he said "keep em"! I explained to him that I had a lot of seeds that I only used 10 or 20 out of a package but he has no use for them.I did winter sow 15 cups for his moms house as a Thank you then I divided them up in preparation of this swap. Unfortunetly, I didn't make it through my annuals. I think because first my neck strain, hubby breaking his foot and my dog being sick. There's always next year. I did bring the dog back for a recheck yesterday in the morning....He was in for surgery by noon. I was told the cost would be between $1500 and $1800, that's not including the $220 from the day before! This is so not what I wanted to hear! I'm grateful that I have been with the same vet for 25 years and they will take monthly payments from me for the surgery!!!! I have to look into medical insurance for this one...lol Hopefully the others will post about their seeds so I can wrap this one up. Have a great day Lisa

Where are all the usual swappers this year?