I'm your neighbor in Napa, so very close climate (I think Sonoma has a little more breeze and fog). When you say 9/1, do you mean seeds or plants? I don't really have a space to put seedlings, but I was reading somebody else's post and they said they put them on their front porch, and that's an actual option for me, mostly shady, gets morning light but would stay cool all day, I'd walk by them a couple times a day and could easily bring them inside if I needed to. I can put them in more sun if they need it. So if I start from seed, would that work? Does the soil just need to be warm and moist to start and then plant them as soon as they're established? And lets say I get seeds, are there any strains that are better than others? I've only bought from the local nursery, but they only had cauliflower and no brussels or savoy cabbage, so I need to order online. When I looked online there were quite a few types. I like basic white cauliflower, hate broccoli. I have only learned to like brussles if I sautee them in olive oil and parmesean (shredded brussels even better so they don't overcook). I know I want savoy cabbage, I like the less firm texture and use it in cole slaw mostly.

You will be tempting mother nature. In that area I would set transplants in August. If you really want those this year you might consider running dow to your local store and picking up plants. On the other hand it is time to direct seed turnips, radishes, mustards and other similar brassicas.

I live about 1.5 hours north of Austin. I learned how to grow great transplants from Dr. Sam Cotner, TAM. I use a soil cuber, soiless soil and cheap over head lites from wally world. Take a plastic storage bin, (big one) and line it with foil, bottom and sides (shiny side out), 2 layers of newspaper in bottom. Make your soil cubes. Sharpen a pencil and wet the lead, pick up seed with this and softly put the seed on the damp cube and pinch top of cube, be easy! When you have gotten all you seeds you want to germinate in the cubes then mist well with warm water and cover the platic bin with plastic kitchen wrap. Tape the plastic wrap to the sides of the bin making this almost air tight!Get a second had or cheap heating pad and place the bin on this, turning on low. Hang your cheap overhead light over the bin about 6 inches from the top and leave the lights on for atleast 12-16 hours a day. When about half have sprouted take off the plastic wrap(save for next year). Continue to give the seedlings 12-16 hrs. of overhead light. This does require a few initial investments BUT they are re-usable yr to yr. WHen the seedlings have one set of true leaves transplant to cups. This has NEVER failed to sprout every seed I plant and I have shared this with many. Let me know if you have Qs!! ps. here in TX. all we really need to start from seeds in tomatoes and peppers. Everything else grows faster and needs warm soil.

Dave/SCG: Thanks for the pointers. I will delay the transplant on the peppers/eggplant and see if I get better production this year, especially on the peppers. I'll start the Geraniums and Impatiens as soon as my seeds arrive next week. I will delay the Alyssum & Portulaca by a couple of weeks since you indicated they grow fast. My goal is to have all of the annuals to be roughly the same size at transplant time (which is why I am not direct sowing them) because they are intended to fill my deck railing containers sometime around Mothers Day (give or take) and last the summer hopefully! So the adjusted schedule for my annuals based on your recommendations looks like this: Feb ​9 (or as soon as my seeds arrive) ​ - start Geraniums & Impatiens Feb 20 - start Petunias March 6 - start Allysum & Portoluca This post was edited by njitgrad on Fri, Feb 6, 15 at 9:19