I've been looking at HD ad Lowe's and reading up on different lights. there's a Philips 2 ft T12 "Natural Light" bulb that is 9,000 lumens and 5000k. Though I can't seem to find a really cheap fixture. There's a single light fixture for $13.98. Would only one of these bulbs work? I've got about 18 tomatoes and 10 peppers. How many lumens would I need for all these seedlings? Theres a Metalux fixture for $18 that holds two T8 bulbs and I could get two T8 bulbs that are 1,400 lumens and 3000k or 1,275 lumens and 6500k. There's also 4ft lights that I could actually get cheaper (fixture as low as $13 and 2 pack bulbs for less than $10 - those bulbs up to 2,900 lumens and 6500k), but I'm not sure about being able to dedicate 4 feet of horizontal space. But I know the light should be right over the seedlings so I might not have a choice?? How many bulbs do you think I need for the amount of seedlings I'm starting? Sorry about all the technical specifics on the lights. I know that the higher kevlin the better for seedlings so if I could get a better idea on the amount of lumens I'd need and how many bulbs (considering that people say that should be right over the seedlings) then I think I could know what's best to choose.

Start them indoors now? NO, it's too late, buy other varieties you may want in a week or two at a gardening place- do not direct sow...your season is too short for them to have time to ripen. Big beef will be a smaller plant than cherry tomatoes! Cherry tomatoes are a huge plant!Don't worry,when they are outside the Big Beef will catch up but the Cherry will always be the biggest! The bottom two leaves are really false leaves...they can yellow and fall off,...it's o.k.! Remember to harden off the plants before plopping them in the ground permanently...also....plant them right up to the bottom leaves/ or where they would have been! They will get new roots up to the leaves! Stop fertilizing them! Fertilize them after about a week outside! AND you can add manure compost (Menards $1.19 per 40# bag) to the hole when you plant them in the ground and a little on top of the soil to get watered in!Later in the season use the blue water (Miracle Grow) !!!!! Hope this helps!!! Bec

Try some short DTM types .... you'll just have tomatoes late. PV

Julia Sorry about your seedlings. It is too late to start again but you can get some transplants from a nursery or any big box store. Most of mine are in the final pots in the tomato garden, the extras that I had are already given away. Look for disease resistance hybrids, for a big tomato the beefmaster did well last fall for me, better boy and celebrity for a medium, sweet 100 for a cherry. And next spring you can start your seedlings again, I will mail you some seeds sampler around that time so you can try your hand at growing them. Silvia