9 Easy Cold-Hardy Annuals to Try with Winter Sowing

Aww winter sowing, the hot topic for gardeners once January rolls around and we start missing our flowers. If starting flowers from seed has ever felt a little intimidating, I want you to know this right away: winter sowing is one of the easiest ways to begin. It’s definitely lazy girl approved! If you’re new to winter sowing (or just want the easiest wins), these are 9 cold-hardy annuals that are perfect to try, especially if you garden in a colder climate like mine here in Colorado.

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains other affiliate links too for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

9 Easy Cold-Hardy Annuals to Try with Winter Sowing

Last year, I tried winter sowing using the ziplock bag method, and I had some success with it. I shared that experience in this post, Winter Sowing Flowers – A Guide for Beginners . It was a great introduction to winter sowing and helped me see just how resilient seeds really are.

Meanwhile, my mom was over there quietly using the milk jug method… and let’s just say she had huge success. Strong seedlings, great germination, and very little fuss. So this year, I’m taking notes from her and trying the milk jug method myself.

Also, I don’t worry about starting them all on the same exact day. As long as they’re cold-hardy, you can winter sow from late January through February. Even if you start a little earlier or later, the seeds know when it’s time to grow. And for reference I am in growing zone 5b!

Why Choosing the Right Seeds for Winter Sowing Matters

Winter sowing works best when you start with seeds that actually like the cold. Some flowers need winter’s chill to wake them up, while others prefer warm soil and summer temps. I usually check the back of the seed packets for help with this!

Starting with the right seeds also takes the pressure off. Instead of wondering what went wrong, you can trust that these flowers were meant to be winter sown — making this an easy, confidence-building way to grow your garden from seed which also saves money. If a flower self-seeds or is labeled cold hardy, it’s usually a great place to start.

Here are the 9 cold hardy annuals I will be trying this year!

1. Snapdragons

Snapdragons are one of my favorite flowers to recommend for beginners. They love cool weather, handle light frost, and grow into sturdy plants when winter sown. Starting them outdoors gives you stronger stems and earlier blooms.

2. Larkspur

Larkspur is a classic winter sowing success story. These seeds actually benefit from cold temperatures and don’t love being transplanted later. Winter sowing gives them the conditions they naturally want.

3. Bachelor Buttons (Cornflowers)

Bachelor buttons are cheerful, reliable, and incredibly forgiving. They’re cold hardy, germinate easily, and bloom quickly — which makes them a great confidence booster if you’re just getting started. This will be my first attempt at growing them!

4. Sweet Peas

Sweet peas are another cool-season favorite. Winter sowing helps soften their seed coats and improves germination. Once they get going, they reward you with beautiful blooms and that classic sweet fragrance. I’ve grown these and always love using seeds from Emilie from flowerpeople.com.

5. Feverfew

Feverfew is one of those sweet, hardworking flowers that doesn’t ask for much. It tolerates cold well, germinates easily, and makes a lovely filler flower in the garden. I am excited to grow these to pair with my zinnias.

6. Poppies (Shirley, Iceland, or Breadseed)

Poppies and winter sowing go hand in hand. These seeds actually need cold to germinate properly and don’t like being disturbed once planted. Winter sowing lets them grow exactly how they want to. Along with winter sowing them I will try scattering them on snow and the ice cube method for cold stratification!

7. Calendula

Calendula thrives in cool weather and laughs at frost. It’s easy to grow, blooms early, and brings cheerful color to the garden when other flowers are just getting started. If I can’t find these seeds I will try Verbena in its place.

8. Nigella (Love-in-a-Mist)

Nigella is delicate, whimsical, and surprisingly tough. It’s cold hardy, unfussy, and does much better when winter sown or direct sown instead of started indoors. I have not grown Nigella but one of you emailed me and said I had to try them and that they thrive with winter sowing so I was sold!

9. Alyssum

Alyssum may be small, but it’s mighty. It germinates quickly, tolerates cold temperatures, and fills in garden edges beautifully. Winter sowing gives it a strong start without any extra work and I love how it looks. I’ve always bought start and so this should be a fun one to try!

Why Winter Sowing Is So Beginner-Friendly

One of the things I love most about winter sowing is how low-pressure it feels. There’s no perfect timing to stress over and no special equipment required (besides saving milk jugs). You plant the seeds, place the containers outside, and let nature handle the rest.

If you’re loving the idea of winter sowing annuals, you might be wondering about perennials too. Many cold-hardy perennials also do beautifully with winter sowing and come back year after year.

👉 Up next: Cold-Hardy Perennials I’m Winter Sowing This Year
(This post will be linked right here once it’s live.)

And if you’re deciding which winter sowing method to try, be sure to read about my experience with the ziplock bag method and stay tuned as I share how the milk jug method works for me this season.

A Few Winter Sowing Resources

If you want to dig even deeper into winter sowing I suggest you follow Elizabeth @wintersowing over on Instagram, I have learned so much from her. I also joined a Facebook group just for Winter Sowing. There are a ton so just search over there and have fun binging the posts!

Where to Get Seeds for Winter Sowing

• I have found seeds in person at Dollar Tree, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Menards, Home Depot and Lowes.
• Here is my Amazon list of seeds for winter sowing
• Emilie at Flowerpeople.com ( a small business) has fabulous seeds that I have used for years now.
• Outsidepride.com and dollarheirloom.com also great small seed companies.

I hope this post was helpful. Let me know in the comment section below if you have any tips or questions on winter sowing. I love hearing from you!

I’d love to have you hang out with me some more! Feel free to follow along with me on any of the platforms linked below.

LTK | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Amazon

xoxo,

Kelly