Deadheading in spring; will seeds still be viable?

Does anyone have experience using seeds that were harvested in spring, after being out in the cold open air all winter, blowing to & fro, getting snowed on, in freezing temperatures, etc? (zone 6)
I let a lot of things go last fall, and so now as I clean up in spring I've been collecting seeds from some flowers, kale, and celery. I will try to plant them but I'd like to know what to expect, if possible, or so I don't waste my time. I'd like to think they'll be fine. After all, they're out all winter in nature and they can self seed. However, maybe the seeds that fell in the fall and stay cozy in the dirt, covered with some leaves, are the ones that end up growing, and these that stayed on the plant don't.

In their natural state, seeds overwinter, and grow when conditions are right.

I have had success with harvesting Mullen and Snapdragon seed after a winter from standing stalks. My new go-to is to cut the head of the stalk off and walk along the area I want to plant just shaking it like a maraca all about.

I have not tried to save this seed in packets for the next year however.

Timothy Norton wrote:I have had success with harvesting Mullen and Snapdragon seed after a winter from standing stalks. My new go-to is to cut the head of the stalk off and walk along the area I want to plant just shaking it like a maraca all about.

I have not tried to save this seed in packets for the next year however.

Ha, shaking it like a maraca, I love it! I'm moving and I want to bring them with me, to plant either next month or in the future. Once I am upstate a couple years and things get going, I'm sure I'll be doing the Maraca Method! Or the Crush & Sprinkle Method, good for flower heads!