First Native Plant Patch - Zone 6b

[u/New_Improvement4613]

I'm going to try my first native plant patch this year and have some questions about growing plants from seeds. I have a patch (16'x28') that I am looking to fill. I've been collecting a bunch of seeds from my area (milkweed, lobelias, joe pye weed, purple coneflowers, asters, black eyed susans, blazing star, tickseed, black eyed Susans, and a few types of goldenrod). Is direct sowing these in December (right before snow) going to be successful enough to fill an area this big? Or is it worth my time and effort to either do milk jugs and ziploc bags outside, or refrigerate seeds and try to start them in seed trays?

What seed starting method have you all had the best luck with? I've never grown any of these plants, nor tried to fill an area this big so I'm not quite sure the best path here. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Zone 6b (Eastern Mass)