I sow my delphiniums indoors (let them germinate in cool dark for 2 weeks) rather than winter sowing. I then grow them under my plant lights til they are big enough (and its warm enough) to plant them outdoors. If you start them early enough, you'll get bloom the following summer, whereas I think if you winter sow, they'd germinate in the spring, but probably wouldn't bloom til the following year. I recommend this with delphiniums in particular because I too have found that they are sometimes short lived. Though I have had pretty good success in getting them to return if I plant them with a big handful of lime. I do winter sow their relatives, larkspur, with pretty good results.

Whenever I grow delphiniums from seed, I always winter sow them. For one thing, they seem to germinate better and are more sturdy plants than the indoor sown type. Also, I have 2 indoor cats, and even though I keep them out of the room where my seedlings are, there is always a chance they might sneak in there and nibble. I think delphiniums may be poisonous, so anything that has the remote chance of making them sick, I winter sow.

I am in the Northshore of Massachusetts, Zone 6a, as I recall. And I am interested in trying winter sowing. For some plants, say Larkspur, do I simply cast seeds on the ground or must I do it in containers? And is it too late for me to try winter sowing this year?

You can direct sow them on the ground. It's not too late, but they do need cold temps to germinate, so you should probably do it now. With 2 weeks of cool temps, they should germinate just fine.

Thank you. What are the chances of success with also starting seeds indoors?

Delphiniums and larkspur need cold temperatures to germinate. You can put the seed in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks to give them the cold treatment. I've never done that, just found it easier to winter sow them.