Hi guys,

I was asked to do a winter sowing workshop for a local garden club. I've done many of these, but usually in January or February. This time its in November.

I'm kind of at a loss as to what to sow. It's a hands-on workshop; I always have attendees sow their own container and send them home with an extra container and more seeds. I usually do lettuce and some easy annual like alyssum or marigolds - something that will be successful and therefore inspire them to continue wintersowing.

I personally usually only sow annuals and veggies now - it's been a while since I've done perennials, and I'm thinking these (perennials) might be better suited for such early sowing - thinking that perennials may need more of a warm-cold-warm stratification. The only thing I can think of is columbines, but these can be finicky, and again, I want them to succeed.

So, I'm looking for suggestions as to what to sow. I'm actually wondering if lettuce or greens would sprout and grow quickly, but I'm not sure I want that - I'm introducing this as a way to start in winter and have things in spring. I wondered if biennials would work, but don't know if November is too late and also if they sprouted early if they'd survived over winter in containers. And again, there's that spring germination thing.

Is suppose it's possible that here in CT zone 6 it may be cold enough to wintersow in November and not worry about early germination, but who knows anymore? Weather is too unpredictable these day.

So, has anyone had success starting something so early?

Thanks!

:)

Dee