You can sow them outdoors in covered containers right now -it is a method called wintersowing - I have been doing it since January - no need to try and find places in the house and chase the sun and it works GREAT - many gardeners in your zone are planting right out in the garden now with wintersown hardy annuals. There is a forum here on GW devoted to it. Read the FAQ first to get an idea of what we are talking about - then ask all the questions you want - these are very helpful gardeners and eager to share - it will change your whole way of thinking....

Lynne

Here is a link that might be useful: WinterSowing

Yes, Winter sowing works great! I lived in Randolph, MA and my last frost was about May 15th. Cosmos reseeded itself for me and would usually germinate early April, so it can be sown anytime in early Spring. I havent grown Petunias from seed.

Sorry to hijack your thread, but yep; us wintersowers are doing annuals NOW outside.

I put out nearly 100 containers of annuals this weekend (sunny south side of my house), and have more yet to do. I work F/T, too, so I have no time to babysit an indoor setup. I do up a few containers after work, and more on weekends (less if it's nice outside so I can go out and play in the dirt ;) )

I'll direct-sow my veggies ~Memorial day like you...but tomatoes are already started, and I'll probably do peppers soon, too, via wintersowing.

Good luck, whichever method you choose!

I have had good luck direct sowing Cosmos out in the garden. So this is another option for you. Many years my cosmos reseed themselves so no work involved just gently moving them to desired locations. Zone 6 I believe your last frost is May 15th, I am zone 5 and generally wait until Memorial Day weekend to put things out.

Hi, I would like to know about this winter sowing but I could not find the forum on the list. Can you tell me where it is? I would like to get my annuals out in the cold frame.

krp- here you go:

Winter Sowing