Jen, thanks for your response. And the answer is yes, I've wondered if it could also be rabbits; I have all three in my yard, squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits. I've just seen so many squirrels digging and there are identical holes in my planting line, beside the damage to the actual plants. (I'm wondering now why I thought it was chipmunks, rather than squirrels?) I spoke with someone at Burpee Seed Co. who said once the true leaves appear, they're poisonous and the plants should be safe at that stage, but until then, I do have to watch over them. I've been thinking maybe chicken wire might do it? I'm going to have to look up deer fencing, as I'm not familiar with it and wouldn't squirrels be able to get through netting? I've thought netting was mostly to deter birds. So much to learn!! So, today my plants are standing up about 8" above their 2" peat pellets (1 to each pellet) and I'm afraid they're going to start falling over if I don't do something quick. The seed leaves are mostly half in and half out of the seed coats, but trying their best to unfurl. (I had about 95% germination!) I'm thinking of temporarily transplanting them to larger containers until the true leaves appear, but I'm not sure of the best way to go about it. Maybe I could line some 4" pots with newspaper, fill them with potting soil, and plant the peat pellet/plants in those? (I'm thinking the newspaper lining will help hold the soil together when I'm transplanting them again to their permanent location, as they won't be in the pots very enough and the soil will crumble away in the transplanting = shock.) No matter what I do, it's got to be today. Either that or tie strings from my ceiling to the Jiffy tray to support them, lol.

shelbyguy, Healthy plants does not necessary mean ample new growth. I am stating that over feeding with nitrogen will cause plants to become more attractive to aphids, therefore a much worst infestation. Just google, aphids nitrogen. There will be more than enough studies to support my words. "High levels of nitrogen fertilizer favor aphid reproduction." (http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7404.html)

I don't know anything about other devices except W-O-W, which I use yearly with two types of tomatoes that have been the only ones to be effective with this method (4th of July and SunSugar). I have tried many early season, and mid-season types and none really come on significantly earlier for me but these two. To put the zone and planting times in perspective, I am in Zone 7 and am just starting the seeds for the W-O-W this week and won't plant them out until mid-March. If I tried any earlier the plants would outgrow the covering too soon. If you have 8 inch plants now in Zone 5, you may have a challenge getting them outside anytime soon. I think it was unanimous with the groundhogs--6 more weeks of winter (groan).

Lots of things I can't do - gardening being one of them still :( It's had me down a bit so I haven't been talking 'cos I've been too much of a misery. Mum always said if yer can't say something nice and cheery yer should hide in yer room. I'm fighting back now - studying art at TAFE. I can still hardly believe they let me in. Doing sculpture. I got a credit for the welding so I get to play with the clay instead. I made an egg carton in terracotta. I understand egg cartons... Still can't throw a decent coffee cup on the wheel - I can centre OK but then keep ripping the tops off them when I start raising the sides... sheesh and Adam makes it look so easy! So no veges in sight. The chooks are still laying tho... Just one day at a time. Amanda