Sandie I think that we've all done the WS here in TN at some time or another. I don't do the veggies but I can tell you that the flowers work well in Nashville.

I've even got some flowering bushes going from seed that we got in Coronado last Spring that are up about 4" right now.

It is also a great way to get some stuff ready for The Middle Tennessee Plant Swap in May!

Thanks for the feedback. Did you direct sow into your garden or containers?

I had good luck last fall with poppies. This year I'm trying hollyhocks so we'll see.
Jen

Sandie we do it in containers of all kinds.

I use containers and direct sowing in the ground. Direct sowing can be lower maintenance, but varmint control is necessary and if everything doesn't germinate like you plan, things may have to be moved around. If I know where the plant will be growing and expect germination rates to be good, I often plant it in the ground. If it's something without a permanent location or something I'm bringing to the swap, I use containers.

When would be the best time to start the seeds in containers vs in the ground?
I'm still trying to figure out the best time to plant anything here in zone 7, I used to be in 5b and couldn't safely plant much outside until Memorial Weekend.
I'm trying a winter garden in which I planted lettuce, kale, brussel sprouts, cabbage and broccoli in the fall, then covered them with hoops and row covers. The cabbage bit the dust but everything else was great until last week or two when the one day didn't get about freezing. The broccoli suffered the most as that most died. Oh and one of the hoops and covers blew off so I left it off to see how it would do. So far so good again except for that one day.
I figure it's alway's worth experimenting!

It depends somewhat on what you are planting, but most winter sowing is done anytime between now and the end of March. Have you read the Winter Sowing Forum FAQ page? It has lots of info and will probably answer just about any question you have about the subject.

If you winter sow, post pictures here. I bet everyone would LOVE it!

Here is a link that might be useful: Winter Sowing Forum FAQ page

Thank you, I have not read that page. I'm looking forward to it.

Sandie, winter sowing veggies is great. I have done summer and winter squash, cabbage, collards, cukes, tomatoes, okra. You just have to make sure once they come up and it warms up to vent the tops of your containers and make sure they don't dry out. That will kill them before anything. If they get snow on them, that's OK...just ignore it, and when it is warm enough it will melt, and water them. It is an exciting adventure. Once you do it you will be hooked. I used to save containers all year to use for winter sowing. It is a good way to recycle just about any kind of container...you can even use a double layer of Saran wrap as a cover...just make sure you punch plenty of holes in any of your covers so when it rains it will soak in.

Good luck...you still have plenty of time to winter sow.