Hopefully someone else will add their 2 cents as this is my first year winter sowing. I’ve never used a cold frame before, but yes, it looks quite similar in principle. If not the same. Honestly, I thought that’s pretty much what cold frames were for, starting and growing in the winter??

If this is helpful: I used both jugs and translucent plastic bins. For the bins I drilled holes in the bottom and holes in the translucent lids (the lids took forever to get enough larger holes and sometimes cracked during the process). I planted my seeds in plastic cups which also had holes drilled in those, placing them in the bins. Thus far, the bin seedlings look much healthier than the jug seedlings. I also note that the plastic cups in the bins have warmer soil as opposed to that in the jugs.

Yes, I have seedlings – mild winter here in zone 7, Eastern TN, with some freezing nights which only killed off the more tender annuals which had germinated. Not all though. My cornflower and poppy seeds have their true leaves, as do many others. Forget me knots are also doing very well.

At no time have I needed to water anything – nature is doing it for me.

I looked up winter sowing for every seed I planted – some I found no info on or found sites saying they didn’t do well – those I will bin-sow this spring, such as basil and tender annuals. All my perennials are alive, but again, those in the bins look the best.

I think your idea will work fine unless there is something about cold frames I’m missing (holes in the top? If none, do you plan to water?).

Good luck!

I think the plants should do just fine. We have up and down weather everywhere during winter and spring. The object of winter sowing is to plant the seeds and see what happens. It is amazing to see what comes up. I keep the plants watered but not sopping wet. If you have a cold frame that is all the better. You can vent it or open on nice days. You can start your veggies in the frame too when you know the soil will be warmer. Good luck. I am late this year due to my husbands health but I want to get my jugs planted soon.