I purchased several seed varities from Seedman about 3-4 weeks ago with the exact same intentions you had - starting them over the winter for planting outside in the spring. I planted them in some pie tins with a heating mat underneath. About 3 weeks into the project I had the first Ensette poke up, a day later another and about a week later two more. I ialso had a Red Tiger sprout too. Now I have 5 plants under grow lights in my mud room! They are growing at a tremendous rate and I've had to raise the lights (2 40w grow lites in a shop light fixture) already. I expect by the time spring rolls around they'll be a couple of feet or more high!. The other seeds are still sleeping but the literature says it could take several months to start so I guess I'm fortunate on these already. Pick up a couple of packets and try them. I live in zone 6, eastern Pa so the intention is to plant something cold hardy, mulch and take through the winter next year. Good luck....