What kind of soil do i buy, like a bag of Miracle Grow from Wal-Mart? As others have stated, don't use Miracle Grow or any other mix that has fertilizer in it. Newly sprouted seedlings don't need extra food, and fertilizers will only encourage funguses to grow and they can kill your seedlings. Get something labeled "soilless seed starting mix" or something like that, and don't feed your seedlings until they've been up for some time and/or have started putting on their first true leaves. Also how often do i water the seeds? Keep them moist until they sprout. Then, let just the surface of the soil dry out to avoid funguses, but don't let them completely dry out (as in all the soil dry). Do i keep them inside or outside? You can start a lot of seeds outside. It's called winter sowing and there's an entire forum here on the Gardenweb dedicated to that method. But they'll sprout later than ones you keep inside. I have a sunroom that is not heated, would that be suitable? In cold or warm room? Your sunroom will probably work if it gets bright, all-day light. I don't know the minimum amount of hours of light seedlings need ~ anybody else know? More light the better though. If they get tall and skinny/lanky, you'll know they need more light. And if they're in a cold room, they'll grow slower, so start them eight or more weeks ahead of your last frost date to compensate. Just make sure the room doesn't get below freezing temps, and preferably not below 45 degrees or so ~ they won't necessarily die if they're that cold (-45), but they don't much like it. Also do seeds go bad? i would like to use them for a couple yrs. Tomato seeds can last four or five years without much lowering of viability provided you keep them in a cool, dry place without many fluctuations in temp and humidity. If you put them in a jar and in the fridge or freezer, they'll keep even better and longer. Just be sure to let the jar reach room temp before opening it so any moisture in the room air won't condense on the seeds. Moisture fluctuation one of the main killers of seeds ~ that and temp fluctuations. Good luck! If at first you don't succeed, figure out why and definitely try again.

Here's what I've done w/great success. I am a florist & any florist knows what a "procona" is. It is a fairly large plastic container in either black, white or pink in which you receive wet cut flowers. I brought several black ones home & drilled 6-8 holes in the bottom of each. I filled w/approp soil & planted one tomato plant per bucket/procona. I also place bricks under them so they get approp ventitlation. They have flourished year after year! Mine are in full sun & I don't have to deal w/weeding. My suggestion is that any of you who want to plant veg in containers go to your local florist & ask if they have any they want to get rid of & I'm sure they will. Ask for "the black buckets in which you receive your wet cut flowers." Our shop cannot keep up w/giving them away! They are also good for storage but for planting veggies, the black are great! At least they have been for me. I have also planted many annuals in them which will overflow & cover the container.

Thank you both for responding (digdirt - thanks for responding multiple times on different posts)! I had a few hours of free time Monday night and I transplanted all 10 plants. I may have waited a bit too long as the roots had grown through the bottom of the cut paper towel tubes they were originally planted in. I was able to keep the soil together for 5 of them, the soil fell off the first one I transplanted and the two tubes with the multiple plants. I handled them carefully by the leaves (not the stem) and managed to keep the roots very intact. They seem to be doing well, most have visibly grown since Tuesday morning. Anything else I should do or look out for? Thanks again for helping me out with my new passion.

I alphabetized your tomato's list and fixed some spelling. I can do your whole list if you like but you can add in your numbers..it makes looking for and trading easier :) You have some varieties I never heard of like Apielson. I'd love to hear more on your garden and see pictures. Please read my list and hopefully we can trade. I also am starting a community garden with over 100 varieties...for starter seed I can gladly save and return at harvest....we are..... well, here's the list followed by the First Fruits blurb. Apielson Orange Aunt RubyÂs German Green Aunt RubyÂs German Grape Australian Heart Beefsteak Big Rainbow Black From Tulsa Black Pear Black Zebra Cherokee Chocolate Elberta Peach Garden Peach Golden Jubilee Green Giant Green Zebra Hazle Mae Hess Japanese Black Triffle Kellogg's Breakfast Manyel Mashinka Pink Matt's Wild Cherry Mr. Stripey Nyagous Old Ivory Egg Ox Heart Persimmon Pineapple Pink Brandywine Principe Bourghese Red Zebra Silvery Fir Tree Striped Roman Super Snow White Thai Pink Egg Tigerovy White Queen Yellow Brandywine Yellow Pear Zapotec First Fruits Harvest Garden 4644 M-33 Hwy. Onaway, MI 49765 While there are many needs in other countries and hungry everywhere, the goals of First Fruits are to: *Feed the local community with organically grown, open pollinated, local vegetables. To be distributed through the FOOD Pantry currently established on site. *Provide a place for those who wish to grow their own produce and provide seed, etc. *Open pollinated seeds will be saved and used/given away. No hybrids will be used. This establishes a fresh Seed Bank as well. Current and future goals are: raised-bed gardens, grains, water supply, storage and greenhouse. We are asking for a tax deductible donation to start "seed" money for such a project. Should such a project fail, monies would be donated to the local food pantry and people would still be fed. Projected Budget- $500 establishes the garden plot including seed. $3600 establishes a greenhouse and storage area. Overall projected budget of operation to start is $4100. After the initial investment maintenance follows and the budget reduces. Thank you for helping Project Manager, Earl Bassett