Here I am a grower of ornamentals and start lots of seeds, mostly perennials and biennials outdoors in the summer. I have a plastic covered area 10x20 feet open on both ends, mostly shaded by tall trees. The summer temperatures are just about right and the fluctuating day/night temperatures actually seem to help the germination. The seeds are kept plastic covered to maintain moisture until germination, when the plastic is then removed. Al

Any cool season vegs like pea, leaf lettuce, broccoli, and short season tomatoes transplant. The tomatoes will have to be started 6-8 wks before transplanting. You will have to buy the seeds on line. You will have about 8 weeks of unprotected growing.

media temp ... is usually more important than the media itself .. for germination ... and after that.. proper watering ... for proper root growth and after that.. light intensity ... for proper green growth ... and then.. i might think about the media as a variable ... ken ps: and i would sterilize my media before i started... regardless of what the bag states ... as well as all my pots/flats/tools/etc ... i use the baggie method in the micro for small batches ... and once got a turkey aluminum pan from the dollar store ... and covered it with foil .. and made a giant jiffy pop out of it.. lol .. i used the meat thermometer the first time... but i figured out.. that if properly dampened.. when steam escaped out a hole in the top ... i had gotten it warm enough .... never forget.. an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure ... http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4DMG/Soil/sterile.htm

yeah I planted some today anyhow just to see how it goes. Best case scenario I get peas :) .... Worst case scenario I wasted 25 cent worth of seed :/ Average frost date is sept 15 which kills all the squash but not the cabbage and I grow Alaska peas which take 50 to 60'days. I gave it a try today. What's to lose a hand full of seeds?