I grow lots of lupines by wintersowing. They are my favorite plant. However I am not so good about getting things out right away, so mine sit in there 2 liter bottles most times all summer. (I know I should be ashamed), I don't keep them in shade as they are full sun plants and I am a tough love plant girl. Stuff either survives by the bare minimum or it doesn't. I just water them as I do my true potted plants (once a week if at all).

So anyway.. I don't know if there is something to the leaving them in pots thing for sure or not(I never heard that before) but since that is definately what ends up being done to mine, I would say it sure doesn't seem to hurt them any. I do always make sure to get them in the ground by early fall because we have some cold winters... And so far they have always come back up the next year like gang busters. I do not have any issues with them being short lived either. I have plants come up every year that are at least 6 years old (I bag and collect all the seed pods, so it's not likley they are reseeding themselves).

Thank you for your response. Unless other people tell me that they plant theirs out right away with success, I guess I'll try leaving them in the containers all summer. My only problem is I planted about 25 seeds in 1 milk jug (I didn't know at the time that I wouldn't be planting them out in the spring). When you leave yours in containers are they very crowded? I'm thinking I may have to seperate them, a few to a pot.

Plant them out as seedlings.. they might be drying up.. the prefer moist but drained conditions.

They are hardy to boot, you can plant seedlings just about anytime as I have plants regrowing already. They can survive light frosts.

They should be fairly easy to wintersow and plant. They are cold lovers though, that's why people with extreme heat and long seasons have harder times with them. (yay for us =)..

Silverkelt