Well, I don't really grow vegetables from seed (just flowers) but I'll try to help. I just started growing flowers from seed last year so I understand your excitement and how anxious you must be to get started using your new germination station! However, you must be careful not to start your seeds too soon. For folks new to growing from seed, that's a very common mistake.

Where you live, you could probably start some seeds (such as Peppers, Leeks, and Celery) as early as mid January but that would be too early for many vegetable seeds. For most others you probably would be wise to wait another three weeks or so.

Here is a link that might be useful: Weekend Gardener

Thanks Art for responding and also for the useful link! In the meantime I will continue to peruse my seed catalogues and plan my garden. If you think of any other useful links, I'd love you to pass those along.

Regarding flowers: I notice that people say they "collect" seeds. Does this mean they actually wait until the flowers are droopy and going into that dried out stage and you collect the seeds from the heads? I am interested in growing zinnias in brilliant colors and would love to see if I after this year I could collect some from the plants. I have a packet of seeds right now, but it would be great to have a "forever" source of seeds! You can see I am very new to this.....

Yes, that's what they mean by collecting seeds.

Your best information on when to start your seeds is local information. Your county has a university extension service waiting to help you free, if you telephone them. Look in your phone book under county offices. Al

firsthouse_mp mentions an interest in zinnias. This links to the most recent thread in GW's ''annuals'' forum.

Firsthouse, this is only my second year starting from seed, but I can give you my plans, given we live in the same general area:

This weekend, I'm starting bok choi, broccoli, cabbage and parsley seeds for a 3/1 transplant. I give them 60 days before transplant, since once they germinate, I've got them in an unheated garden shed where the growth time is a little slower than what the books say.

I'm starting my tomato seeds around 2/15 this year for a 5/15 transplant. I waited until 3/15 last year, and didn't feel my plants got big enough before my transplant date of 5/15, so I'm starting a little earlier this year.

3/1 I sow my peppers, onions and herbs. I don't put peppers out until 6/1 and they grew reeeally slow for me last year, again most likely because I'm not keeping them really toasty while they start.

Peas get direct sowed in March and April.

Pole beans, squash and cucumber get direct sowed around 5/1. I started in pots last year and was amazed at how fast they grew (and grew out of!) their pots. I've learned they're best put right in the beds.

Like I said, I'm also fairly new to starting from seed, but I was pretty successful last year, and am making some adjustments based on what I learned. So take what you can use of the information and toss the rest.

And congrats on the Christmas presents! I'm really enjoying growing from seed because I love the control I have over what I grow and when I plant it. It's also fun browsing through those catalogs in the cold months and daydreaming of my lush summer garden.

Loribee:
Thanks for the post. It was definitely helpful to see your dates, as that gives me a specific idea of when I should sow/plant. I have started a few things in milk jugs to transplant (they are outside, so may not sprout for a few months--winter sowing).

So I gather you can get in one early Spring crop of broccoli and cabbage before Summer due to our mild Feb-April? Then, you don't grow any of these cool season veggies until Fall again? Or do you just do one season of these?

Thanks everyone for the great tips!

Yes, my goal is two crops of cool season vegetables a year--spring and fall. I'm also trying to succession plant broccoli and peas to see how far I can stretch the season.

I've been working with this vegetable planting calendar from the Sonoma County Master Gardener's website: http://ucanr.org/sites/scmg/files/30787.pdf

There is also a good book titled "Golden Gate Gardening" by Pam Peirce which has several planting and seed starting calendars specific to the Bay Area.

I'm gathering as I get more experience, I'll continue to adjust my planting times, and maybe even abandon attempting certain vegetables at certain times of year. For instance, I tried planting peas and broccoli late (November) for a winter garden and I'm just not sure it's worth it since they seem to be sitting there doing almost nothing. It's one of the best things about starting from seed, in my opinion. You can play around with different planting times and varieties with minimal investment.

Not sure where you are in Northern California, but those two publications may give you a good place to start.

Lori:
Thanks for the great link for the timetable. Downloaded that and am studying it!

I am 30 min South of SF so have less cold and less heat than you.