My concern with starting seeds now is the fact that it's been so cool and dry! I'm affraid my garden is thinking it's October!

The only one of these I have a lot of experience with is the delphinium. I buy or collect my own seed (it doesn't keep well and should be planted fresh) and germinate inside in my propagation box (about 3' x 4' with shop lights that can be raised and lowered). These will usually bloom a bit the first year. Some of the others I've tried using this method as well, but they take the entire season to get established.

Another thought: check out the winter sowing sites (including GW). I should think any of these seeds, including delphinium, could be winter sown.

Something I start in midsummer are biennials like foxglove. These get a nice start and overwinter in a cold frame outside and bloom next season.

I doubt you have time to germinate, then plant and expect the seedlings to overwinter in the garden. But others may have more experience with this.

Good luck. GaryStPaul

Thank you for the answers! Actually, while I was poking around here, I found the winter sowing forum, and I think that that may be the best option for me. I didn't even know that was possible! It's a really exciting idea, especially because I have a very small house (with a very large yard, thank goodness!) and I just don't have the room for starting many seeds indoors.

Heh- heh heh....
There goes another unsuspecting gardener right down the slippery snowy slope to way too many happy seedlings!
Wintersowing is a very fruitful and addicting pastime- that will carry you right on through the gardening year with planting out seedling- gathering seeds- collecting containers and swappin' those seeds you have cleaned and packaged up!
You are sure to enjoy it!
Julie

I just this year decided that I stop waiting for germination on the 4th of July. Anything that germinates after that has no chance to make it to winter with enough growth to survive. So I just let the soil dry out and will restart them again next year.
So, to answer your question-it is now too late to start seeds. But, the season starts sometime in November for me.

If the plants are hardy in Zone 4, you should be able to plant the seeds in the ground in the fall and have things come up in the spring. (A little easier than winter sowing). This has worked for me with yarrow and poppies. I plant extra seeds so that the squirrels, chipmunks, and bunnies don't eat them all. I haven't tried the plants you have listed, however.

BTW, an earlier posting in this forum provided pretty convincing evidence that mint is best grown from seedlings rather than seed.

Peppermint needs to be in a container or something to keep it in bounds, it spreads ALL over! I have lived here for 9 years and still fighting it every year.