basil
coleus
for sure!

Basil does fine for me. I winter sow it every year.

Thanks Doris, that's what I am looking for. I wonder why one would have good luck but not another? It doesnt really matter though, I'm just looking for things any of YOU have had trouble winter sowing.

I would agree on coleus although some folks do it. We have Baker's Acres in Alexandria which specializes in cool coleus and I love to go there in the spring and purchase some gems.

Howver, basil for me germinates when it is supposed to and does not germinate too early. It behaves like parsley, but I agree it is much more tender. If you are concerned about basil, sow it later at the end of the winter sowing season.

Yotetrapper, I'm thinking it's not a matter of IF, but a matter of WHEN. Most everything, except maybe tropicals, will germinate just fine with the winter sowing method, but some will germinate at the first sign of warmth, and then die during the next cold snap, because they are not frost tolerant. That is why Doris1 listed basil, and coleus. Others that fit into that catagory are marigolds, cosmos, and zinnias. So those are things that I (in zone 5) would wait and sow in April. I'm still using the WS method, but it is technically "Spring Sowing", and I might put them in a more shady location, since temps are pretty warm by then.

The other issue with some seeds that like warmth, such as beans, corn, etc. is that they may rot if put in cold, wet soil for very long, which is why it is better to spring sow warm season veggies, or even direct sow, as opposed to winter sowing.

As far as seeds that I personally have not had luck with, in most cases either the seed was old, or received in trade, so I'm not sure about it's viability, or it was something that I should have sown later, such as the coleus example.

The only perennial that I have not had any luck WSing has been Agastache rupestris. I tried fresh commercial seed one year, and my own seed harvested from existing plants in my garden. I got 0% germination both times. Not sure what's up with that one.

Bonnie

The zone is real important. I have had little luck with tomatoes and peppers and those that did come up were way too late for our short growing season.

Carmen, I was told to make sure and get the earliest fruiting type of tomato seeds. With a short growing season, those are supposed to be best. I haven't tried tomatoes before because I don't get enough sun, just northern exposure. I will try this year though, what's to lose?

I can't WS things that need a long growing season to fruit, like tomatoes. There's just no way around starting them indoors in Feb. Sure, seeds will sprout outdoors... in late June or July... but that's too late for harvesting, so I just consider them weeds.

Generally speaking, you're probably better off waiting for warmer weather for tropical-type plants. Even sowing early indoors, I can't get castor beans to mature enough to plant the following year, so I'm always having to acquire seed each year.

Sue

Thanks for the notes on veggies that might rot sitting in wet soil too long. That must have been what happened to 90% of my corn last year. Both the WS ones and the DS ones (LOTS of rain). And the note on earlier tomatoes...yup, have issues with those, too. But can't not have 'maters!!!!

what's to lose? Not what- who. French Painter.

The only thing I don't wintersow is beans. I've tried a few times, but I've found the seeds rot before they can germinate. Everything else I've tried has done okay to great, depending on the year. Never tried corn, though!

:)
Dee

I am doing it all. Not sure what I am not suppost to be wsing. :-) Ignorance is bliss. (As long as my seeds still sprout)

Hold on.. marigolds shouldn't be WS'd!? Oh crap! I put about 90% of the marigold seeds I got from trades (the only marigold seeds I have) into my WS containers. Oh no..

greenthumbgrow that is refreshing. I want to have that attitude, too... but I'm itching to pick out the corn seeds I have in one container (shared with other varieties).

But you're right. I should happily sow away and embrace what sprouts, learn from the rest.

heyitzbenny----don't worry they will be fine. they just won't sprout until it warms up.
Duane

I WS hundreds of marigolds every year. I also WS coleus and basil and... well, everything but green beans!

Your marigolds will be fine.

:)
Dee

Angela
Probably the only thing I wouldn't WS is peppers, only because they really wait for the heat to germinate and grow, and our growing season here is too short for me to get fruit.
Other than that, I do WS basil (although I wait until April-May).
Some people have WSed coleus with success.

I thought I should do Celosia indoors, but last year, I had two plants that had reseeded, and despite the cool summer, they grew very well.

Impatiens...I don't WS because they don't grow quick enough and it's the one thing that is easier and cheaper for me to buy a 12-pack of at the local nursery.

Anything that is a tropical kind of plant I Spring or Summer Sow and then overwinter. I did that with Gardenia and Bay Laurel. It worked out well.

I think anything is worth trying...this year, I think I'm going to WS Trachelium seeds. I think they are warm lovers, but I haven't sown them indoors with success. I figure I'll see what WSing does.

Linda