The idea of seeds (or what they were first created to be) was to fall during the fall, be sown into the ground during winter, and grow during the spring. This is how it has worked for how billions of years and so it should work for you too.

They should germinate when sunlight, moisture and soil temperature combine to trigger germination as long as they haven't been eaten by critters, blown away by wind or washed away by heavy rain. I grow perennials from seed via winter sowing to protect them from predators and bad weather. There is a winter sowing forum here on GardenWeb where you can find out more about the method.

This is my container ghetto:
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These are a few of my 2011 sprouts:
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