Maybe I haven't gotten replies because it's a dumb question, I don't know but just wondering if I should start now or wait another month. Does it really matter since the seeds will sprout when they are ready anyway?

sow now!

I thought you were supposed to wait to sow annuals until March or April so they didn't sprout early and get frozen. But this is my first year WSing so I have no first hand experience...

That's why I asked. This is my first year with vegetables, second with flowers.

Hopefully, more people with veggie sowing experience will answer. It's not a dumb question at all. I would think in z7 you're okay to sow the ones that can take colder temps now. Which ones are you thinking of? Like broccoli, cauliflower and such? I would wait for heat loving ones like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc. Even though I've w/s'd for years, I haven't tried vegetables yet, so I'm guessing.

I'm in 8b/9a and we have lettuce, carrots in the ground all winter. I would think that you could almost grow the lettuce in a milk jug and actually harvest baby greens from there. But.... we are having a much colder winter than usual....

If it helps, I "wintersowed" Brussel sprouts in Nov, put them in the ground in Dec. They are just sitting there doing nothing, but at least have a few more leaves

I would sow everything now except things you direct sow like cukes or beans. Everything else, tomatoes included, can go out now. As you said, they'll come up when it's time. I do my tomatoes in late january or early february.

Is broccoli a spring veg where you are? I would think it gets too warm too early. Even here in southern PA I've had no luck with spring broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower and am switching to fall for them.

As I suggested earlier, sow now. For cold tolerant veggies, they will handle what mother nature throws at them and will sprout when it is time. Cold sensitive crops need more care/consideration.

regards, Tom

Here in zone 6 CT, I sow my vegetables later, like in March. But it's more because I sow a little at a time (maybe 4 to 6 containers a day, 3 days a week) and I do my perennials first, then my annuals, and then my veggies.

The exception for me is lettuce. I sow it in February so I can start eating baby lettuce asap! And I don't WS green beans at all - after several attempts where the seeds always seemed to rot, I just direct sow them later.

Your zone is warmer, so my experience may not apply. But not a dumb question at all. Good luck and have fun!

:)
Dee

Bottom line is there are warm season crops and cool season crops. Many or most "cool season crops" can handle some frost. "Warm season crops" cannot. You can do a web search on these 2 phrases and get a real good idea what vegetables are in each category if still unsure.

One of the retail seed companies (I've never ordered from them) has an on-line spreadsheet for calculating when to start seeds indoors and the "setting out date". The "setting out date" is when you may be able to direct sow safely based on your last frost date. Google e-pdgseedstart.aspx and you should find it. Unfortunately, the weather is not always predictable.

The question is when to wintersow cold hardy crops.

Wintersowing is just that... wintersowing. Sow now, watch to make sure the containers don't dry out and seeds will germinate when it is time.

regards, tom

the other option is to sow some now and sow some in a month... keep notes and report! :-)

Thanks everyone! I did sow broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach, and radish, over the last few days. Yes, broccoli has to be grown early here before it gets too hot. I have no idea if it will make it but I figured it's worth a try and if not, I can try again in the fall.

Your climate is almost identical to mine (North Alabama), and I have tried to grow every vegetable that you can think of during different times of the year - by both wintersowing and transplant methods.
Sadly, broccoli just isn't feasible grown in the spring here - because just as nice-sized florets begin to form, the temperature will cause them to flower. However, if you put transplants in the garden on the first of October, you'll be harvesting a good crop around the 15th-20th of December.
I have been wintersowing veggies for years, and it is an absolutely wonderful method for most things.

EG

EG thank you for sharing your experience with the broccoli. I will make a note to follow your directions in the fall. Have you winter sown tomatoes squash and bell pepper yet?

You're welcome. No, I haven't sown them yet - but they can certainly be done now...