Can someone tell me about these flowers, all of them are stocks and tall. Help?

Question

Here is a list of seeds I have:
-Larkspur
-Lupins
-Stocks (ten weeks dwarf)
-Penstemon
-Snapdragon
-Salvia
Will these seeds survive over the winter? On most of them the expiry date is December 2008, or December 2009. How do I care for them? When do I plant most of them in the spring, should I start in doors? Which are perannuals and which are annuals? I live in Ontario, Zone 5. What else? I also have 35 gladioli bulbs. I just planted them in a pot, they probably won't bloom this year, i just planted them because i have to take them out in october because they could die over winter outside. How do I care for these too? All these stocks are going to planted in a border, which will probably be pretty nice, and full. And one last thing, I have a perannial Aubeitia, it says I was supposed to plant it inside in April, but I can't do it next year because the expiry date is December 2007. Should I plant them now? Will the bloom next year? Thanks!

Answer 1

Expiration dates are pretty much suggested dates. I've planted many things that have expired. Just make sure you store them properly. They should all be find until you are ready to plant them. If you are going to wait until spring which is what I recommend then just place them in a dry dark location like a drawer somewhere. If you want to seed your garden in the Autumn with the perennial seeds you can because that is when a perennial flower would drop it's seeds anyhow.
Below are links to most of the flowers you listed. Hope they help.
Larkspur: http://gardeningtips.org/Larkspur.shtml
Lupines:
http://www.gardenersnet.com/flower/lupine.htm
Stocks:
http://www.dutchgardens.com/Growing-Gladiolus/default/5323.page?SC=
Penstemon:
http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_pepae2.pdf
Snapdragon:
http://www.planetnatural.com/site/xdpy/kb/growing-snapdragon.html
Salvia:
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1174.htm
Gladiolus:
http://www.dutchgardens.com/Growing-Gladiolus/default/5323.page?SC=