How to overwinter my seedlings

I have a few trays of late summer seedlings/young plants - foxglove, aquilegia, lupins and lavender. They all seem strong and growing well at the moment but I'm not sure how best to get them through the winter ready to plant out next spring. I don't have a green house so options are:
1) Outside and unprotected
2) Outside in the (unheated) coldframe
3) Bring them into the house - warm but not great light

My gut feeling is coldframe but alternative suggestions welcome as I really don't want to lose them!

 

@2nd_bassoon I have been planting out all my Foxglove and Aquilegias that i sowed earlier in the year - so if your beds are ready then they are hardy enough to cope already ....i will continue to keep planting them out until the end of Autumn The Lavender and Lupins are better in the cold frame as you rightly thought as they are not entirely frosted hardy - the wet will affect the Lavender as they like it sunny and dry. I will keep some of my Half-hardy plants and plant on in larger pots approx 1litre, then they will overwinter in the cold frame, to ensure against any unexpected losses. I can then if needed in case of a very hard Winter place fleece over them inside the cold frame.
You can also direct sow any Half hardy's in Autumn as i do..... to get a head start on flowering for Spring-Summer, Its a lot easier i find, as you don't have to worry about watering them in through any dry spell. ...Then i sow again in Spring to ensure continuous blooming
Hope that helps- i best stop waffling - LOL it's becoming an essay for you to read

 

For me, protect all those seedlings in your cold frame 2ndbassoon. They dont require heat or over fussing. Watch out for slugs though.....a few pellets perhaps or a visit at night with a torch.
I would expect foxgloves and aquilegias to make quite a bit of growth right now so you will prob be looking at potting on....check the roots
I dont think you will need to fleece anything in cold frame.....lid up during the daytime until it gets too cold or is raining

 

Great, thanks both. The bed they're intended for won't be ready until spring anyway, but I was worried not being in the ground would make the more sensitive to the weather. Will go ahead with the coldframe plan and keep my fingers crossed!

 

@2nd_bassoon Your welcome good luck and as i said just keep an eye on the weather - no one can know their own temps where you live better than yourself - And i always if in any doubt protect - there must be nothing more disheartening to lose plants after nurturing them for such a time They can soon toughen up when they're harden off and then planted up ....so happy gardening and enjoy all your new garden plans.....Spring will be with us soon enough ....bring it on

 

Gold Star advice!!!

There can be quite a difference in temperatures from one end of the UK to the other and many variances along the way and in between! Just one of the reasons why we put our location in our profile - and an even greater reason we should take note of a members location when giving advice

Good advice re: protection too

 

Awww shucks - i's gone n got me a gold star - Fanks @"M" ....but there again i cant really.... take the credit I's bin taught by the best on GC

 

How many of the tv presenters qualify their advice re location? Very few if any do
Even in Cornwall temperatures vary enormously ......last night for example temps were 13 degrees in far west and Isles of Scilly to 5 or 6 further east.
When I offer advice I take into account the differences.....for example winter protection for dahlias does not really apply here.