Hi, 
I think you are asking about "cool season" vegetables that germinate in late winter and get planted early.   https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/planting-vegetable-garden#cool-season-crops-1975160

Cool season vegetables is a term found in books or on line. 

Tomatoes are not a cool season crop--they start early to get some growth on before going to the outside ground but they do not like cold windy conditions and should not be planted outside until the second half of May. Although if you want to gamble, you can put them in early May and risk losing them.  I have done that but no more.

Thanks for a quick reply Steve!  I am actually asking about winter sowing, not cool season crops.  But I found a bit of an answer in this post https://hennepinmastergardeners.org/winter-sowing-in-minnesota/

Dear Kylene, 
Thank you for writing and thanks for clarifying.  There are also winter greenhouse designs--essentially plastic cover lean to next to the house or in a window well that can be done too.  If the window well is an emergency exit, do not block its use with plant racks.

https://www.greenhousesandsunrooms.com/greenhouse-window-well.html