if I could put it out in the direct sunlight right after they sprout

If you will check over on the Growing from Seed forum here you'll find several current discussions on why this won't work and the painful lesson - death of all the young seedlings - learned by others new to seed starting this year. There are also several good FAQs there you might be interested in reviewing.

Dave

Oh Ok, Thanks for the heads up!!

Just get some deep disposable aluminum lasagna pans, poke soe drainage holes in the bottom with a pencil, fill them with seed starting media, and sow your seeds. Set them in the sun from the beginning. When they're big enough, transplant. No need to harden off. Simple, easy.

Just make sure the soil in the pans is at least 3" deep.

If you don't want to buy lasagna pans, just go to your local thrift shop and buy some cheap containers, 3" - 4" deep. If they're metal, pound drainage holes in the bottom with a big nail; if they're plastic, heat up the big nail, hold it with pliers and melt holes in the bottom.

Sue

When I start seeds instead of direct seeding, I use tall plastic or styrofoam cups. You can reuse them from year to year, there's more room for root development, and it's easy to transplant from them. Sue's pan method is easier to water, though.

I start them outside when the sun gets warm during the day and bring them in on nippy nights until it's warm enough for them to stay outside. So they are hardened off from the start and the seedlings seem to be much stronger than ones grown indoors.

There are lots of ways to start your seeds -- you'll find a method that you like. Given the long growing season where you are, you may decide to direct sow some or all of your seeds in the future.

Weather permitting, my just germinated seeds go straight outside in the sun. You simply have to get them out there soon enough. Then, as they get a bit larger (in a few days), I sit out there and transplant them into their cell packs straight from the germination flats. It may be in the 40s outside or in the 80s. But they stay outside.

I've never had any problem, but you have to get them out there while they are still teensy, barely any stems.

If nervous about it, introduce them to the morning sun for a few days.

digdirt/Dave,
Could you perhaps provide a link to one of those discussions?
I am very interested in this as well but was unable to find the threads you were referring to.

Starting/sowing some seeds(especiall tiny ones) in trays/containers outside has advantages over
direct sowing in the garden. The reasons: you control how much sun is needed; keep an eye on them and water them as needed, cover them if needed.

Those small box size growing kits, with a clear cover are not suitable for outside,
because it can get very hot in a sunny day and can cook the seedlings FAST.

Thank you all. Everyone on here is very kind.

Seems to me that the whole reason for starting seeds inside is because conditions outside are too harsh for the seedlings survival. Too hot, too cold, too windy, too rainy, whatever. If you believe the conditions in your area are ok for seedlings to be outside, or you don't want to go through the hardening off process, you may find the answer in the winter sowing method. There is a separate Forum for Winter Sowing on Gardenweb with some great FAQ's posted.

If conditions are harsh, then you use the hardening off process to ease them into it. Use your best judgement to protect the small fragile seedlings. Don't put them in hot direct sun, setup wind barriers, only expose them some of the day, bring them in at night to avoid cold temps. Do what you need to in order to keep your seedlings alive until they are big enough to survive the outside conditions. Mostly common sense when you think about it.

Happy Gardening!
Susan

I'm trying something new this year. I started my lettuces, bok choi and kale in the 96pak/flat starting trays. I put them on my east facing front porch, on a seedling heat mat because nights here are still in the 30's - 40's I made a little tent out of an old white bedsheet to difuse the sun a bit. I am one of those people who always misses the "thinning window", and things get too big and too crowded and don't produce as well. This way I figure I can take one cell with 2 lettuce plants in it and plant them at the proper spacing at the proper time. Seedlings are up, look really good and stocky. I also planted a "control" row in the ground like I normally would, just for comparison. Any holes in my logic?

Steve