Now is the perfect time for most perennials and hardy annuals. Just don't do anything tender or tropical for sure yet. Also hold off on anything that doesn't require a cold period at all. If you look at the seed packet or look it up online and it says wait until the soil warms up or wait until after the last frost, don't sow it yet. Wait on things like tomatoes beans, sunflowers, zinnias, etc.

Also try to do the wintersowing following the tried and true instructions which are simple and flexible. When people alter the basic principles and it doesn't turn out right they often blame the method and don't try it again.

It reminds me of when people get recipes online , change a bunch of ingredients, cooking times, etc. Then they go and rate the recipe poorly because it didn't turn out!

People that had trouble with wintersowing often tried putting the containers in a greenhouse that overheated, or used topsoil instead of potting mix, or used tiny seed starting peat pellets, or very shallow containers. Sometimes they neglect to add ventilation and a way for rain and snow to get in, or just simply don't add enough potting mix to the containers. Many people also get so excited they start ALL their seeds in the fall and early winter. The quick to germinate ones not requiring cold stratification pop up the first warm spell and then get frozen and killed when the cold of winter sets in.

Just double check the faq on here or wintersown.org to make sure you have it down for the best chance at success.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/wtrsow/

I have been wintersowing in Michigan for nearly a decade. Now is the perfect time! Don't worry about the seeds. They will be well protected in their containers. Get started and put those jugs out in the snow!

Martha

Thanks to both of you! I'll start them going this weekend :)