Molly, you can actually use the same method any time of year. I don't do my annuals until spring (to avoid early sprouting and later freeze) but they do great. I also used the same technique (ouside in a milk jug) for some rud hirta last summer. Planted out in fall and they'll be bigger plants this year to start blooming sooner than if started this year. The milk jug acts as a mini greenhouse.
Visit the wintersowing forum here some time.
Karen
