Hi Calliope, I know what you mean, but those plants that can be planted before frost date usually can take frost easily. My nasturtiums, e.g. went through a few snow falls last year with their beautiful leaves and flowers before they finally yielded. I agree that one must know his area well and know how to estimate (though we cannot be 100% accurate). For some annuals, I wait 2 weeks after our formal frost dates, then check the forecast for the next 10 days, and if it looks good I can plant them. For tender annuals, I might wait a little longer or start indoor. For half-hardy or hardy annuals, I can start earlier.

You can seperate them as soon as the first true set of leafs appear. They will take an incedible amount of abuse, or so it seems to me, that we invoke when we split them and reset them. Be sure to handle them by the leafs instead of the stem. They will grow new leafs but not new stems. I transplant a second time when they are about 3" and touching. Each time into a slighty bigger pot and bury them as deep as possible each time. The third time is usually into a 4" pot and then outside with the doods to harden em off. Crazy Larry

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