I can't think of any annuals that require stratification, but there are some that tolerate it. You can use the guidelines in the wintersowing FAQs to figure out which types are most likely to need or tolerate wintersowing.

If sowing in pots, especially during winter or early spring when there might be a frost, it is probably a good idea to cover the pots with something clear or translucent. The covering should also have a few holes in it to let some air in.

Do you have any specific annuals in mind?

Only one I can think of are cleome seeds, and even then, they can be sown in the spring but the germination rate will be no where near what they would be if you WS them early and gave them cold stratification first.

Other than those cleome seeds that I do WS come end of January or February in zone 5 MA, the annuals don't need any cold stratificaton.

Micki, you should go onto your member page and add your zone and state info to it so that it shows when you post.
Just saying 6 without telling us what state makes it more difficult to guide you in timing for WS your seeds.

All zones with the same number are not the same. My zone 5, here in NE doesn't equal a zone 5 in another part of the country.

Fran

You can sow your annuals in winter. The cold won't hurt the seeds. Problem is, they sprout easily in a warm spell, and an early spring warm-up can make them sprout. Then, tender annuals can freeze when the cold weather returns. Been there, done that.

Hardy annuals do fine any time.

I usually wait until late March or early April for tender annuals. If it's a really cold year I might wait until more like mid April. If we get a hard freeze, I close the jugs and throw a sheet over them.

Karen