Hi Karen, Hello from one newbie winter sower to another! :)
I am new also and so will tell you what I think about the temps you are asking about as I am in zone 5 also. Cold temps are what you want to have for WS. The mild spells make us nervous. I WS some perennials a couple of weeks ago and then got a warmer spell.......I was afraid that the poor little guys would think it was spring and start growing and then freeze to death when the temp dropped down to where it was supposed to be.

Maybe someone else can fill you in on the seed part of your post.

Lois

For me, I do my perennials in the coldest part of the winter - from December on... if they are cold hardy and there is a warm spell, most will not germinate in a short warm spell, but for example: Dianthus will. So, that's okay, because the dianthus can take the cold.

But, if you were to consider doing annuals, we wait until much later because then if you DO get that warm spell and later a freeze, you could lose them because they are not cold hardy (although some of us have brought them into a garage when that has happened)....

Here's the thing: When the seeds you listed are ready to germinate, the cold will not effect their ability to do so.
They will germinate when the right temps and amount of days have happened.. one day you will go outside and the container will be filled with seedlings.

The exciting part of that is that you will have tons of seedlings and they will already have been used to being outside and there's no worry about dampening off.

Good luck

Carrie

tepelus: Welcome!

I have wintersown campanula carpatica, so I assume any campanula would probably work well. I have also successfully WSown a veronica, though I don't remember the strain.

Our zones 5-6 really do have ideal weather for wintersowing. Be sur to check out Trudi's site, wintersown.org

Karen

Here is a link that might be useful: seed list by zone

Cool! Thanks everyone! I have that spring itch and need to do some sort of gardening, so winter sowing has me, as you know, intrigued. I think this weekend (when it's supposed to be coldest) I'll start out some trays and set them outside and wait to see what the tee-tiny ones will do.

Karen

Trays, as in seed starting trays? If that's what you're thinking of using, you might want to think a little larger and deeper. Those things are too shallow and small for outside where they dry so quickly.

If you look at what the real successful veterans here use, most prefer milk jugs.

Karen

Well, not seed starting trays, something deeper, and I will probably use milk jugs, if I can find them. Whatever I decide to use, I'm thinking it should allow me to put in at least 4in. of potting mix or deeper, right? I did read up that the trays do dry out too quickly.

Karen

Yes, shoot for 3 to 4" of potting mix. Another thing to remember is the seedlings need head room to grow, so you don't want them to close to the lid. Milk jugs meet all the requirements, and, in my opinion, can't be beat.

One thing to consider is your normal rainfall. I had horrid drought last year, so the jugs with their size and moisture holding capacity were a blessing. Trouble is that we can't forsee the weather. Normally spring is wet here, but last year was the exception- hot and dry. Best to be prepared for anything with big containers, like jugs.

Karen

I'm taking your advice with the milk jugs...in fact I have planted my Crazy Shasta daisy seeds in the one milk jug I have! It has begun!

Last Spring for us up here in Northern Ohio was wet, but then it dried out from June through July, it wasn't until about the middle of August when we got some much needed rain, then the rain went away again for another month.

One question on the jugs, should I leave the cap on it? I did cut some slits around the top of the jug so I could keep the cap on it, but what is your opinion? I guess now I'll have to ask the girls at work if they have any empty milk jugs so I can get more seeds started.

Karen

No, no screw cap. You want the rain/snow/air to get in there.

Other Karen

Ok, I will remove it.

Karen from da north

Hey Karen,

I too just became interested in wsing and planted like 15 things yesterday in milk jugs, which I think are great!. I had the same problem about not having enough and someone on this forum gave me the great idea of going to Starbucks.

I gave them a black plastic bag with my name and number on it and they so graciously agreed to put their empty milk jugs in and call me when it was full. It took less than 24 hours to have the bag full. I am actually taking another bag today because I loved it so much and want to do more. FYI- One Starbucks told me they "couldn't" do it for me but another Starbucks down the street could. I think it depends on who you talk to and who is more helpful. Also you may want to tell them not to crush the milk jugs. Some of mine were so crushed I couldn't even pop them back in place to use them, but most of them I could. Good luck!

Cassie