Choosing seeds for winter sowing is easy once you know what to look for. There are tons of seeds that will work, but there are also many that will not. In this post, I will show you exactly how to figure out which types of seeds to use for winter sowing.
How do you choose the best seeds for winter sowing? That is a very common question, and an important one at that.
The reason this question is so important is because you can’t use every type of seed with the winter sowing method. Some types of seeds work great, but others will only rot.
But don’t worry, you just have to understand a few simple things in order to get it right. I’m going to break it all down for you below.
Seeds and supplies for winter sowing
How To Choose The Best Seeds For Winter Sowing
Generally speaking, perennial seeds, cold weather vegetables, as well as hardy annual flowers and herbs will work great with winter sowing.
If you’re unsure whether certain types of seeds will work or not, then check the seed packets. There are certain keywords to look for that will tell you if that is the right type of seed…
- “self sowing”
- “direct sow outside in the fall”
- “direct sow outside in early spring”
- “cold stratification”
- “cold hardy”
- “perennial”
Various seeds that can be used for winter sowing
Winter Sowing Seed Lists
Below you will find a few lists with examples of some of the best seeds for winter sowing, sorted by type. Of course, this isn’t meant to be an “all-inclusive” list.
This is just a small sample of ones that have worked for me, and should help give you an idea of the types of seeds to try for yourself…
Annuals
- Calendula
- Celosia
- Cosmos (I like Sea Shells and Psyche White)
- Datura
- Lavatera
- Marigold (Crackerjack and French are my favs)
- Morning glory
- Petunia
- Snapdragon (Night and Day Snapdragon is gorgeous)
- Sunflower (this dark red mix is my favorite)
Perennials
- Black eyed Susan
- Butterfly weed
- Cone flowers
- Gaillardia
- Liatris
- Poppies
- Rudbeckia
Here’s a great mix of flowers that would be excellent seeds for winter sowing.
Vegetables
- Arugula
- Broccoli (this variety did amazing in my garden this year)
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower (I love this blend of heirloom varieties)
- Collard greens (this is the variety I grow every year)
- Endive
- Kale (I love Chinese Kale and Red Kale)
- Leeks
- Lettuce (I love Garnet Rose, Red Velvet and Mesclun Medley)
- Mache
- Pac-choy
- Radicchio (Palla Rossa Mavrik is lovely)
- Radish
- Spinach
- Swiss chard (Bright Lights Swiss Chard is a must for amazing color)
- Kohlrabi (Purple Kohlrabi adds wonderful color to the garden)
This mix of veggies would be perfect if you’re just getting started.
Purple kohlrabi grown from seed
Herbs
- Chives (both regular chives and garlic chives are a must in my garden)
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Anise hyssop
- Lavender
- Mustard (Mustard Red Giant is a must)
- Oregano
- Parsley (this is my favorite)
- Peppermint
- Sage
- Salsify
- Summer Savory
- Chamomile
Swiss chard that I grew from winter sown seeds
You can find more winter sowing seed lists here. Once you start experimenting, and seeing the similarities in the different types of seeds you can use, you’ll easily be able to figure out which ones to try in the future!
Do you want to learn even more? My Winter Sowing eBook would be perfect for you! It will teach you everything you need to know about how to winter sow. Download your copy today!
If you want to learn how to start all of your seeds, and how to mix the different seed starting methods to easily grow anything you want from seed, then my Seed Starting Course is just what you need! It’s an in-depth training that will teach you exactly how to grow any type of seed you want so that you can save tons of money every year on garden plants! Enroll in the course and get started today!
Related Products
More Information About Winter Sowing
- When To Start Winter Sowing Your Seeds
- Winter Sowing Containers: What Works & What Doesn’t
- Tips For Winter Sowing During A Mild Winter
- Choosing The Best Soil For Winter Sowing
Share your favorite seeds for winter sowing in the comments section below.
Kathy says
Hey, thanks so much for an alternative to indoor sowing. Living in South Texas, this should work great for getting an early start this year plus not having space taken up in my home is even better.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, winter sowing makes it so nice to be able to keep all of the seeds outside.
Carmen Ross says
im trying to look for that zoning im in Arizona, i started winter sowing 2 wks ago.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Humm.. sorry, but I’m not sure what you mean. Are you trying to figure out what growing zone you’re in?
Brigit says
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge! This is especially valuable for me living in Ontario (Zone 4-5) since I wondered if winter sowing is only for milder winters. But Minnesota and Ontario sure can’t claim to have mild winters! Good luck for this season! I’m curious to know when you’ll start this year.
Amy Andrychowicz says
LOL, we sure can’t claim to have mild winters! Though some aren’t as bad as others. This year I think I’ll wait until February. I have a lot of travel plans coming up, so it’s going to be a busy January. 🙂
Brigit says
Oh traveling sounds exciting! We had a bit of a warm spell today so working in the garage was possible. I’ve prepared 10 water jugs (Mache, Lupins, Poppies, Early Onions, Swiss Chard, Parsley, Chives, Thyme, Sage) and thrown them on the lawn in my future vegetable garden area. Waiting another month now to start bush beans, golden beets, Kohlrabi and maybe another round of Mache and Onions since I am not sure if the early sowing will survive…
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, sounds like a great start! I would wait until it gets warmer to winter sow the bean seeds though, they will only rot if you plant them when it’s still freezing outside. I start them in winter sowing containers in April or early May (usually 2-3 weeks before I could direct sow them). Beans and other large, warm weather vegetables don’t work if you winter sow them early, only the cold hardy one will work. All the rest of the seeds you have listed should work great. 🙂
Bridget says
This is a great list. I’ve had luck with nasturtium for winter sowing.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thanks! Nasturtium? Interesting. I haven’t tried winter sowing those seeds before. I figured that since they aren’t hardy, the seeds would only rot. Plus they hate being transplanted, so I always just direct sow them in the spring. Do you live in a mild climate, or did you winter sow the seeds in a cold climate like where I live in Minnesota?
MarieZ says
I’ve been winter sowing lots of extra flowers for friends this year. Pretty thin on veggies though, have to get busy on that. Also lots and lots of herbs, including catnip for the kitties. Thanks for the list of seeds to try, I’m on it! 😉
Marie
Amy Andrychowicz says
Sounds like you’re going to have an excellent selection of winter sown seedlings come spring! Great job! You’re welcome.
Michele says
We are planning on winter sowing big sunflowers in hopes of doing a “sunflower forest” for the kids. Last year, critters dug up and ate all the seeds we direct seeded. I was thinking of doing 1-2 seeds in big plastic cups instead of a bunch in the jugs for easier planting. How well do they transplant? Interested in doing carrots, maybe we should w/s those instead of waiting to direct seed. Here in Chicagoland, ours barely matured before winter hit! In fact, I’m sure there’s still some in the ground. LOL! We got tired of waiting on a harvest! Regards, Michele
Amy Andrychowicz says
I’ve had great success winter sowing sunflower seeds. As soon as they germinate, take the lids off the containers, and make sure they seedlings are in the full sun. They grow leggy pretty fast if they don’t get full sun.
Though carrots would work great with the winter sowing method, they do not transplant well. So I recommend direct sowing them seeds as soon as the soil is workable in your garden, rather than winter sowing them.
Suzie says
I’m fairly new at this, having winter sown only for 2 years, this being my 3rd. I was wondering if you’ve winter sown hot peppers before, and have your efforts been successful? I’ve found hot peppers to be somewhat finicky (and I don’t even bother with sweet peppers), in terms of germination. Also, what about cucs/squash – have they worked for you? Thanks for your help!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, I have winter sown all kinds of peppers before, cayenne, casabella, jalapeño, and lemon drop to name a few. You’re right, the hot peppers definitely do better with winter sowing than the sweet and milder ones. If you have a few extra seeds left over after planting stuff indoors, throw them into winter sowing containers to see what happens. If nothing else, it’s fun to experiment.
As for the cucumbers and squash… they have also done very well for me. But definitely wait to start those until spring (March/April here in MN), otherwise those larger seeds will just rot in the freezing cold. Also, the seedlings don’t love to be transplanted, so it can take a little bit for them to recover afterward. Since they are such fast growing seeds, you may decide that it’s just easier to plant them directly into your garden, rather than winter sowing them.