I don't really have many problems with germination. For Lettuce, I sprinkled on the surface of the soil, and just patted it down a bit so it doesn't fly everywhere from rain or wind. For spinach, I put it down, take tiny clumps of soil and sprinkle it over just until I can't see it anymore. Same thing with peas, I planted lots, covered it enough so rain wouldn't wash it away... and over 40 have germinated so far. This has been a very cool year so far. The hottest it has reached is just around 75 F or so. It's on average 60-70 F each day, so it's not that hot yet.

If it's a thin layer of leaves you could probably just toss the seeds on top and water. If leaves are several inches thick you could just brush some aside and sprinkle seeds onto the soil. Pay attention to the sowing instructions for each type of seed because some require light for germination, some require darkness . If they require darkness they might be better covered with some leaves. Cosmos, bb's, lve in a mist, and larkspur all grow very easily from seed and also reseed themselves. If you left your love in a mist pods to mature and drop seeds themselves this year they might return on their own Karen

Thanks to the last two posters who reminded me not expect much by seeding now and to be happy with what's in the nursery. I have started some cosmos and will start some marigolds today, pre-sprouting them, just for fun. I do live in warm San Jose where it's expected to be 85+ all week. I will be reading GardenWeb starting in Jan to see what others are doing in regards to starting their spring and summer seeds. Thanks to everyone for their input. Happy Father's Day!

Travellinjess; I have tried growing onions from direct seeding in the past in your zone. The problem is to seed them when they will amount to something, the germination is so slow that the weeds beat them, and it is almost impossible to find them when they do germinate. I start mine indoors March 31st, for a transplant May 15th I harvest about 2nd to 3rd week in august for storage onions. You can get one of those 10"X20" trays with 12 inserts and can grow enough transplants to provide you with a couple of hundred pounds of storage onions! once they germinate they are very tough, and you could move them outside in days and bring them in at night. I cut the tops a few times, and it causes them to bulb out, and by transplant time they have a good root system and a 3/16" bulb on some of them. I then make a furrow come planting time, and set them out with the appropriate spacing for the variety, they take about a week to settle in and then are away to the races! I tell you if you can manage it you will never go back to onion sets! The picture shows top and bottom shows only 2/3 of that particular crop Hope this helps Chic. PS onions shown are Walla Walla and Hendrix both from Stoke seeds.