I'm in zone 6 MD, and I'm still wintersowing. I sowed right through June last year, but it depends on the seeds. Some need the cold, some don't. I'm still a newbie, but if you have seeds that need cold spells to germinate, I think it's too late for those?

Leisa

It would depend on which perennials, some need a moist chill before they will germinate when temps begin to warm up, others which will still winter sow well don't really require the chill and will also Spring sow just fine.

I think if one still needs to wear a sweater in the evenings it is still cool enough to winter sow.

Some of us sow seeds throughout the year using the same techniques as winter sowing making changes needed for extra heat, ie: putting more vents in tops or putting containers in more shaded areas, etc.

Some seeds do need cold stratification which can be accomplished by putting seeds in a small amount of mix and keeping that in your refrigerator the required time before sowing outside. Most do not and can be sown during warmer periods.

I would take advantage of the warmer weather to sow in comfort. Most seeds take several days or weeks to germinate. Most likely the extra warm days will pass before they germinate.

When it is warm outside I want to be out and enjoying the beautiful weather. I would take advantage of it. It is still pretty chilly here this week so I am jealous.

Darn. I think I missed my opportunity to finish wintersowing. It looks like it's just going to remain warm from here on out. I'll have to put my recent bottles into the basement fridge. How many weeks should they sit in there?

We'd need to know which perennials to know if they would require the moist chill and to make a suggestion as for how long that chill should be. Not all perennial plant seeds require a chill, and of those that do, some will need a longer period than others.

you stop when you run out of seeds and dirt,
or when the store runs out ofseeds and dirt.
or when the internet runs out of seeds and dirt.
or when the world runs out of seeds and dirt.

Actually, you stop when you sick and tired of looking at containers on your patio.

:)

Morz8 - re: needing to know names to know if they need cold spell, I hope my list is not too long (and not sure if all are perennials). I'm typing info as they appear on 'gift' pkts:

Four O'Clocks (limelight)

Butterfly Weed (asclepias tuberose)

Columbine (Biedermeir mix)

Mexican Hat (Ratibida)

Blue Siberian Iris

Lupines (mixed colors)

Rocky Mt. Penstomen

Maltese Cross (red/orange)

Purple Veronica (Speedwell)

Hollyhock (med. pink)

Lavender Munstead

I would really be appreciative if you (or anyone) could help guide me along.

Tks,
bonnie aka brit5467

Bonnie,

In my experience, none of those actually require a cold period although some may do better with some stratification. Lupine is one example, but I've sown Lupines in the summer and they have germinated. Columbines are another and in their case, the fresher the seed when sown, the better they germinate.

I'm a newbie winter sower, but from what I know about native plants, your native seeds will likely need some cold, moist stratification, including:

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa): 30 days/1 month

Mexican hat/Yellow Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata): 30 days/1 month

Rocky Mountain Penstemon/Beardtongue (Penstemon strictus): 2 to 3 months

Just basing this on the recommended strat periods on the Prairie moon seed website (see link below), and the University of Texas/Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center website:

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PEST2

I winter-sowed Mexican Hat and Foxglove Beardtongue/Penstemon back in January I think. Since I'm a newbie, don't know when they will germinate. No sprouts yet though in Zone 6 on these.

Don't know about the others...hope this helps!

Here is a link that might be useful: Prairie Moon: Ratibida pinnata/Mexican Hat/Yello Cone

Hi Bonnie - Because I really don't feel like diving in to tax prep again first thing this morning even though I should :)

Four O'Clocks (limelight) Tender Annual, no chill required

Butterfly Weed (asclepias tuberose) 4 weeks chill, or at least cool nights for the next month will help germination

Columbine (Biedermeir mix) Aquilegia siberica Biedermeir - some chill will help, but these may (or may not) be very slow and take a few months to germinate. Better get them out :)

Mexican Hat (Ratibida) Will germinate without any chill, usually about 2 weeks from sowing

Blue Siberian Iris - I fall sow almost all iris, but I know others here have had luck both winter and summer sowing. My own Siberian self sow in Fall, and I get best planned germination with warm/cold/cool cycles, like the plant would do if self sowing, so maybe someone else will chime in on this one :)

Lupines (mixed colors) If these are some of the russel hybrids and not species types, no chill required. I know soaking seeds not needed WS, but in mid-March, I'd soak these before sowing anyway, give them a little head start. A day or two.

Rocky Mt. Penstomen - likely needs the chill and a long one, as much as 3 months

Maltese Cross (red/orange) No chill required

Purple Veronica (Speedwell) 3-4 weeks of cool nights should be enough chill, don't cover the seeds

Hollyhock (med. pink) May germinate with no chill, but a chill of 2-4 weeks may give you better germination, another to get going on

Lavender Munstead - May germinate with no chill at all but some cool nights may give you better germination, so get going now :)

You can bookmark this site too for approx temps required and some guidance on what makes a good WS candidate, the information here reliable...

Here is a link that might be useful: Clothiers Database

This brings up a question for me as well..

I have Joe Pye Weed, Solidago, Butterfly Weed, and Ironweed sowed that I did at the end of January. I have tons of sprouts already, but none for any of those! Should I be worried that they didn't sprout yet? They certainly got enough cold I'd assume!!

Nope, you shouldn't be worried yet, it's not even technically Spring. The Joe Pye Weed, Butterfly Weed, can take as much as additional 30-90 days after their chill to germinate. Let mother nature warm those pots up a while...

Morz8 - THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH for taking the time to provide me all that info. I will certainly print it out and study it. Lots going on now with a death of a friend's mom, so WSing is on hold, but at least I know what to jump on and what can wait.

Question - what do you define as cool nights & "chilly"?? I know many say "if you still need a sweater or jacket on" but is there a specific temp I should be looking for? We've got the "yo-yo" weather going on now, with some really warm days. Right now, it's 9 PM EST, drizzling and I'm on the porch with a 'hoodie' over a thin sweater, 'sweats' and fuzzy socks and fur-lines slippers. I'm comfortable, but it's chilly to me (about 49º). And then it's gonna be in the 60's this week. That doesn't mean it won't drop back down, but what if it doesn't?

So do ya think the ones you suggested needing chill (like the Purple Veronica, for instance) would be better off in a spot where it doesn't get a lot of sun during the day to warm it up a lot?

I know I need to keep in mind how things would grow in the wild but since I'm getting such a late start I figure I'm going to have to help out 'Mother Nature' a bit.

Tks again - bonnie aka brit5467

I agree with Doris "Actually, you stop when you sick and tired of looking at containers on your patio"

I stop sowing when I get tired of planting out. If you have more to sow and they do not need a cold period go for it! They will get used to your climate and mother nature will take over.

I also sow stuff till June. Mostly quick growing things like zinnia. I did this last summer thanks to reading some posts here. I did a few containers at a time then stuffed them in the garden where there were spots that were not blooming at the time.

Karen

Bonnie, I'm sorry about your friends mother. Lots of tears here too this weekend, lifelong friends seem to be losing their son to his lymphoma.

So, lighter note...gardening (which keeps me sane)

Approx 40F is low enough to be considered the chill most seeds need. It doesn't have to be consistent 40, many seeds will react better to fluctuating temps, if nights are dropping to close 40F at some point during the 12 hours of darkness we are still having for the next few weeks, I call it good.

The only seeds I'm concerned about getting enough of a chill are some hellebores that were shipped later than I'd thought that were expensive...I'm keeping an eye on forecasts and may be moving those in and out of my refrigerator if necessary during a warm stretch of days. Most seeds wouldn't get that much of my attention :)

And yes, keeping your containers where they won't be warming up as much in mid day sun might be a good idea.

Morz8 - tks for your concern and sorry to hear about your friends' son. My sanity comes from gardenint, TOO :)

Tks for the info. I think I can expect those temps at least off and on around here for at least the next few weeks and will definitely rethink my storage area that I'd picked out in 2009 !! My,how time can get away from you.

bonnie

PS - great database, BTW !! Forgot to check it out until just now. WOW !!

We are supposed to stop? Smack forehead NOW they tell me??!!

LOL Not really You all ready got all the real good advice. Just a joke that had to be cracked.. carry on.. hehe