They sure will. Nice and early too.

I had 6 new seedlings this year. Only one bloomed, and that wasn't until late September or maybe October.

Karen

Thanks for answers. That sounds encouraging. Am going to order some today and try. I am zone 4 so it should be still time to plant.

Several plants are called "coneflowers". Do you mean echinacea? I think first year blooms are the exception on them rather than the rule. I was surprized that aardvark said she had early blooming ones in zone 5.

But echinacea, even if it doesn't bloom until second year, is well worth the wait.

Karen

Ditto what Karen says. It's a rarity. I've winter sown lots of Echinaceas over the last few years, but only once did one bloom in it's first year. That aspect won't deter them from being winter sown again this year.

yes, it is the Echinaceas that I am going to plant. I would do it anyway even though they won't bloom the first year. Maybe a few would. Does anyone know any other perennials that would possibly bloom the first year for zone 4 that I could try. Thanks all for information.

I did a quick search and came up with the link below. I haven't looked too closely at it, but it might be useful for you. ( I hope:))

Here is a link that might be useful: fast blooming perennials

I did go back and read a bit.....sorry !! the conditions that he grew the plants in were very different than the ones that we will grow them in.

thanks anyway for the site. very interesting. it would be fun to try experimenting with starting some perennials under long period of light, lights. I will try some of the seeds that way, too.

Perennial, all if they are cold treated for 8 weeks will usually bloom the first year, so people that get blooms the first year with a perennial such as echinacia, what had probably happened is you had a warm spell, such as a lot of us just had in the NE and they germinate, then it gets cold for another couple months, it tricks the plant into thinking it went though another winter and will bloom. Commercial growers will start their seed in say 72 plug trays and then let them fill out the plug, then they plop them into a refrig. to put them into dormancy. They keep them in the frig, with lighting for usually 8 weeks, a lot of plants do not need that long. I start perennials in the house then take them to the barn with lights on for 12 hours. I don't have the frig. unit they use, but it works, usually. This is my first year winter sowing and in Feb. I am going to experiment with some ws jugs by bringing the jugs in for a few weeks, let them germinate and grow a bit, then stick them outside. Jugs take much less room than the trays I use in the house.
There are a lot of perennials that do bloom the first year and the above list link is a good one to follow.

very interesting about the perennials. If you let the seeds germinate in the jugs in February and put them outside when they grow a bit, I would think the small tender plants would freeze. I would like to try your idea about putting them in the below freezing barn with 12 hours of light. I do have a shed outside that I could put a light in. Bought echinaceas, painted daisies, and achillea seed at Walmart yesterday. Going to plant today. thanks for ideas.

My first try at winter sowing was a few years ago (it was in March that I discovered the GardenWeb) - and I tried purple coneflower (echinacea). They germinated OK, and 2 of them bloomed the first year; they've returned every year since, blooming bigger and better every year.

As Karen mentioned, 1st year blooms are the exception rather than the rule - but watch out! The 2nd year + just burst out in your garden.

our barn is insulated, generally around low 40's, but can get lower if we have a really low snap. If the are a tender perennial I would not do this, but hardy the seedlings are very tough.

O.K. For all you winter sowing guru's out there on this subject - simply because I would love a yard full of these... How do you sow them?? I received seeds last year and, I sowed them without success. I covered the seeds lightly. and had zero germination. This year I think I will try a 50/50 1/2 covered and the other 50 will be exposed. I am hoping for success at least one plant of course. Some of the cone flowers that did sprout were actually zinnia's. I did enjoy them however ! Any tips for a newbie? I would love some tips just to get some of the lil' boogers just to germinate for me... I NEED SOME HELP HERE!! I would love to grow some. I think, I have seed (a different one other than the zinnia seed which by the way I will be again sowing this year as well they were pretty...!) I am not ready to give up on this as I love daisy's in particular. Thanks for any advice you may have to offer all you experienced sowers out there -

Barb

I agree...it's rare for Echinacea to bloom 1st year. Being you are in ND you might consider trying the ND native Echinacea angustifolia which is adapted to ND drought :D

My winter sowed Delphiniums bloomed in late August/September. Basically did the same as thelwiz suggests, they sprouted, it was cold, I brought them into 50 degrees,(unheated glass porch) then set out again. Planted early , tiny true leaves and we had one more frost after that.
Of course I am trying the Echinacea this year, the same way.The direct sowed Digitalis and Echinacea did not flower last year.

Your right thelwiz about the jugs versus the trays. This moving plants around can get to be a chore! Jugs are by far easier to handle.

Trailer gal, I am close to your zone, and last year was my first wintersowing, but the perennials that bloomed were Asclepia tuberosa, Rudbeckia, and Verbascum. The ones that did NOT bloom last year were my Shasta daisy 'Alaska', Gaillardia 'Burgandy', Kniphofia, and the Echinacea.

Just my experience, your mileage may vary : )

Bonnie