So if I understand correctly, you do not water while they are overwintering? What seed do you think would NOT work well with this method?

Hi orbaughb,

I have never had to water them. But we get quite a bit of rain in the winter and spring here in the PNW. If you haven't had rain once the seeds germinate you can open the lid and check the soil. If you have to water just use a garden nozzle that will put out a spray, water with the lids closed, so you don't disturb the seedlings/seed.
I do wet the soil when I plant the seed.
If the weather has warmed and I am not ready to plant them out, I cut the top off. They are usually only without the top for a week. At that time I may have to water them if there is no rain.
The tops can also be used like mini green houses to cover the newly planted seedlings if there is threat of frost. It also protects the young seedlings from deer, squirrels and other pests until they get going.

Oops, here is a link to list of seeds that do well with winter sowing. http://wintersown.org/Seed_Lis...
If the seed you want to grow in not shown in the lists, just give them a try with the WS method.

Thanks, Lynn, for reviving this thread. What are you wintersowing this season? I am just getting out my huge seedbox and making some plans.

Hi Evelyn.

Isn't this a wonderful time of the year. So much promise in those tiny seeds.

I will be sowing Bulldog Collards, Italian Parsley, Dill, tomatoes and Armenian cucumbers. Not very much this year.

What are you wintersowing?

This year it is Rock garden plants which I am doing as WS.
Gentians, Lithosperma, Omphalodes, Lewisias.
Those are what I can remember----they are all outside.

I will be doing a number of annuals, perennials and veggies. I will start with the ones that need cold weather first. I'll report back later, as I am going through my seed box now. I have so many old seeds and a few new ones.

I hope you have time to take photos of your progress. I have a few seeds ready to plant now.

Trudi Davidoff has marvelous seed lists for Winter Sowing. However, her originally website WinterSown.org is not working. She's got a big group, Winter Sower's on Facebook. I included her seed lists on my Winter Sowing blog post for access, made for a local community gardening group. Sharing it here for Winter Sowing tips as well that might help:

Deb's Top Ten Winter Sowing Tips – Reveln
https://reveln.com/2022/01/24/...