28 Best Seeds for Winter-Sowing

When spring finally arrives, the seeds germinate when the soil temperatures warm naturally. You don’t have to worry about timing, and you get well-adapted seedlings that often perform better than those transplanted from indoors.

This method also frees up space on your countertops and ensures your seedlings are tough enough to handle whatever the environment throws at them. Plus, you probably already have most of the materials you need to start—seeds, some potting mix, and plastic containers to create your mini-greenhouses.

You can sow pretty much any seeds, but some are considered safer bets than others due to their tolerance of cold. If you’re just starting out, these flowers, vegetables, and herbs are great choices.

Flowers

Whether you need to fill a gap in your garden with perennials or annuals, winter sowing is a great way to get a head start. Keeping them outside means they’ll emerge when temperatures are just right, establishing strong roots and flowering as soon as possible. From cottage garden classics to frost-tolerant favorites, these flowers make seed-starting in winter feel effortless.

Black-Eyed Susan

If you’re looking for a sun-loving perennial that fits into just about any garden style or design, black-eyed Susan is my go-to. The bright yellow petals scream summer, but the seeds actually don’t mind frosty conditions.

To get started, sprinkle seeds over moist potting mix in a repurposed plastic jug (or any cold-friendly container). Simply set it outside and let the weather take over. As spring arrives, the seedlings will pop up strong and ready to handle full sun.

Coneflower

Coneflowers are tough in many ways, including in the face of cold. They don’t mind temperature dips, ready to pop up as soon as spring arrives. And once they do mature, the flowers add amazing texture and color wherever they are planted while attracting a range of pollinators at the same time.

Winter sowing fits Echinacea perfectly. A period of cold helps them germinate and establish quickly in the garden. Plus, it’s a must-have addition to a calming or herbal tea garden.

Yarrow

Like coneflowers, yarrow is no stranger to tough conditions. It may look delicate, but yarrow can handle drought, poor soil, and even cold quite well.

Cold stratification for about a month is recommended, making them a great choice for winter-sowing. This mimics the plant’s natural growing cycles, providing the right conditions to boost germination when temperatures increase. For setup, place yarrow seeds on the surface of a well-draining mix, keep them slightly moist, then let them chill outdoors all season long.

Milkweed

If you care about butterflies (especially monarchs), milkweed is a must-have. These plants produce clusters of delicate flowers that are crucial nectar sources for pollinators. Their leaves are also the only food monarch caterpillars can eat.

Native milkweed seeds are accustomed to sitting in the soil throughout the cold months, making them ideal for winter-sowing. They need cold stratification to germinate well, which makes sense considering their self-seeding nature as the season ends. Sow your seeds in containers outside, and they’ll be ready to sprout when spring arrives.

Daisy

Daisies instantly add a classic meadow-like vibe to the garden, perfect for cottage garden planting. While they don’t strictly need exposure to cold to grow well, the temperature change does have an impact on how the plants establish.

Planting is straightforward, like other flower seeds. Sow just beneath the surface of a seed-starting mix, keep it lightly moist, and place the container outside. When seedlings emerge, transplant them to a sunny spot.

Cosmos

Cosmos are one of the most easygoing flowers you can grow. Don’t let the delicate foliage fool you—they are impressively tough. While most gardeners wait until spring to sow, there’s nothing stopping you from starting them in wintertime, along with your other flowers.

Exposure to the cold can be beneficial, as the seeds will naturally germinate when the time is right. Accustomed to outdoor conditions already, you won’t have to worry about hardening off when you winter sow.

Marigold

Marigolds are colorful, warm, and ridiculously easy to grow. While many prefer indoor sowing before spring, winter sowing is also an option and takes away the extra maintenance of growing seedlings indoors.

There are so many stunning marigolds to choose from, each with different colors and textures to fill any garden space. Try ‘Red Metamorph’ for a bright but delicate look or ‘Kilimanjaro White‘ for large ruffled blooms.

Calendula

Related to marigolds only in common name (they’re sometimes called pot marigolds), calendula is a cool-season annual. It sports edible petals and soothing herbal properties, but its ease of growth is what makes it a must-have flower in any garden.

Winter sowing works well for this cold-loving annual. Once the flowers emerge, harvest them to use in teas, as natural dyes, or simply leave them on the plant for the pollinators to enjoy.

Sea Holly

The spiky blooms of sea holly come in eye-catching blues and greens, particularly in cultivars like ‘Steel Blue’. Once established, it practically takes care of itself, tolerating poor soil, heat, drought, and even salty soil found in coastal areas—all while blooming profusely and attracting pollinators.

These perennials appreciate a cold period before germinating, making them ideal for planting in fall or winter. Once the soil temperature warms to above 70°F, they will germinate.

Sunflower

It’s hard not to smile at the sight of a sunflower, particularly when you can watch it move throughout the day with the sun.

They are not known for their cold tolerance, but the seeds are tough, benefiting from softening in the soil throughout the coldest months before spring. This also frees up some indoor space and eliminates surprises if spring comes late.

Salvia

Salvias are incredibly reliable perennials, producing masses of flowers in a range of colors to suit any garden design. They’re also wonderfully easy to grow and great options for beginners looking for foundational plants in their flower beds.

Winter sowing is not 100% necessary, but it does help get them started outdoors without the fuss of indoor setups. Once established, they will certainly know how to handle the elements. And you’ll get to enjoy the buzz of pollinator activity the flowers bring, too.

Snapdragon

Like salvias, snapdragons are available in a wide range of colors, meaning you’re bound to find one you fall in love with. Those who like a pastel color palette will appreciate cultivars like ‘Magic Carpet,’ but if you want to add some drama, ‘Night and Day‘ is ideal.

Getting them started outdoors in the cold season is no trouble for these plants. Just sow the seeds on moist soil in a plastic container and leave it outside until spring. Pinch them back early on for bushier growth and more blooms.

Delphinium

Delphiniums stand out wherever they are planted. The tall spires of blooms are hard to miss, towering over shorter plants in garden beds and bringing impressive height.

Delphiniums can be fussy about sowing conditions. But many gardeners see improved results with this method, letting the plants emerge naturally when the time is right. This method sets them up for stronger growth right from the start.

Love-in-a-Mist

Love-in-a-mist has soft foliage and delicate blooms in soft blues or pinks that add a whimsical feel to containers and beds. The flowers attract pollinators and the ornamental seed pods are great for harvesting to use in indoor arrangements.

These seeds love a chill, emerging once warmer days arrive. They don’t like to be disturbed, so sow them where you want them to grow rather than transplanting them later. To do this, you can plant directly in the ground or a container and place a cloche or milk carton over them. You’ll get to enjoy their flowers throughout spring.

Vegetables

In the vegetable garden, many cool-season crops are ideal for winter sowers. Brassicas are the obvious choice, but there are a few others that appreciate outdoor sowing when temperatures dip.

Spinach

Spinach is the standard cool-season green, thriving in temperatures other veggies can’t handle. Whether you’re tossing the leaves into salads or soups, fresh homegrown spinach tastes so much better than anything store-bought.

Sow your spinach seeds in a protected container in late winter. As the weather fluctuates, the seeds will remain in the soil until they sense the warmth of spring. Once germinated, give seedlings partial to full sun and steady moisture.

Kale

Kale’s cold hardiness is well-known among gardeners (it even tastes sweeter after a frost). That’s why it’s no surprise that this seed-starting process sets this leafy green up for success. Grow kale if you want a tough green loaded with vitamins and can handle temperature swings better than most leafy veggies.

Scatter kale seeds onto a fine-textured medium and let the chilly weather do the rest. When the seedlings emerge, give them a sunny spot and keep the soil evenly moist.

Swiss Chard

The colorful stems and glossy leaves of Swiss chard are both decorative and delicious. They are a great nutrient-packed addition to salads or stews, fitting well amongst other cool-season leafy greens in the garden too.

To plant, sow seeds in a container of airy potting mix and place it outdoors. They’ll sprout when they’re ready. Harvest the outer leaves and let the inner ones keep coming for a continuous supply.

Cabbage

Like other brassicas, cabbage is known for its cold tolerance. They provide continuous nutrients and produce throughout the year in the right climates. Winter sowing cabbage seeds will deliver a late spring or early summer harvest.

Avoid leggy indoor starts and produce sturdy seedlings that can handle the weather changes in early spring by starting them outdoors in cold weather. Once they sprout, pop them into a sunny spot and give them extra nutrients to meet their heavy-feeder needs.

Broccoli

Broccoli is a nutritional powerhouse, but that’s not all it’s appreciated for. This crop is surprisingly easy to grow, and adaptable too. This process produces strong seedlings that know how to handle the outdoors from day one. This gives you large green heads for harvesting, plus plenty of side shoots.

Broccoli doesn’t mind the cold, so don’t be afraid to sow outdoors, even if it’s snowing. By the time spring arrives, the seedlings will emerge tough and ready.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower does not handle heat well and grows best in cooler temperatures. Although they can be a little fussy when germinating, winter sowing is an option, especially if you’re planting all your other brassicas at the same time.  

Cauliflower takes around 2 to 3 months to mature, depending on the variety. For those in warmer climates, make sure you time your sowing right so it doesn’t get too warm right as they mature.

Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts sometimes get a bad rap in the kitchen, but that’s usually from people who haven’t tried homegrown ones. These are sweet, delicious, and nothing like the negative perceptions many people have from their childhood.

They also thrive when winter sown as the natural chill helps seedlings develop into sturdy young plants that can handle variable spring weather. Roast them with a drizzle of olive oil and salt (and a topping of bacon if you’re feeling adventurous), and you’ll quickly convince any guests at your dinner table.

Beets

Beets are one of the easiest crops to grow. Their compact size also means they’re easy to squeeze into small gaps in the garden between other veggies or even in containers if they’re deep enough.

To sow, press beet seeds into a container of damp soil and place it outside for the season. Once seedlings emerge, give them a sunny location. You’ll have a harvest that adds color to salads, sandwiches, and even desserts (if you haven’t tried beet brownies yet, you’re missing out).

Onions

Onions form the base of countless recipes. Certainly in my kitchen but I’m sure in many others, you can almost never have enough. Growing them from seed requires patience, but winter sowing simplifies the process.

Since they take so long to mature, the earlier the start, the bigger the bulbs you’ll get. Plant seeds in potting mix in a covered container and let them weather the cold.

Herbs

Fresh herbs have an almost endless list of uses. Even if you’re not interested in cooking, there are so many benefits to growing herbs in your garden. And a few of them are great candidates for winter sowing, too.

Sage

Ornamental salvia appeared in the flower list, so it’s no surprise that Salvia officinalis appears here. The earthy flavor is a must-have for roasts or holiday stuffing, and you can even dry the leaves to add to your herbal tea collection.  

This seed-starting method is a great fit for sage seeds. Once established, this perennial herb keeps giving year after year.

Parsley

Parsley is often seen as just a garnish, but it’s so much more. It can be slow to germinate indoors, but this planting method solves that problem by letting seeds naturally emerge when they’re ready in spring. They grow best in cooler weather, making them a natural fit. 

Scatter parsley seeds and cover lightly, placing the container covered outdoors with an opening for airflow. When seedlings emerge, make sure they’re in partial to full sun and rich soil to give you the best possible harvests.

Cilantro

Cilantro is a controversial herb, but I think all gardeners should love it, no matter their opinion in the kitchen. It’s a beautiful plant that thrives in the cooler seasons, producing lush leaves prime for harvesting.

Cilantro bolts quickly in warm weather, so starting outdoors ensures they pop up as soon as they are ready. Harvest the leaves often to promote new, bushy growth and limit flowering.

Oregano

Oregano is the quintessential pizza herb. The adorable leaves add Mediterranean flair to pasta sauces, roasted veggies, and more.

This perennial herb happily settles into garden beds or containers, coming back season after season. It loves warmth but can handle cooler days, too. Start them in enclosed containers and wait for spring to see your herbs thrive.

Dill

Dill is another versatile herb everyone should grow. In the kitchen, you can use the leaves, stems, and seeds. In the garden, it’s a pollinator host plant and has a wonderful wispy look that gently sways in the breeze, adding impressive ornamental value.

Dill grows quickly and may reseed itself. Harvest leaves as needed and let a few plants flower for the pollinators.