Your zone does not necessarily dictate your last frost date. Check your climate records and figure out when that is, then count backwards. I am also in Zone 6, and it is generally safe to plant out by May 15. I have pushed this closer to May 1 when the long-range forecast looks good, and I have the ability to protect the transplants. Last year, I started peppers, eggplant and tomatoes on March 1, and with diligent potting-up, had large, bushy tomatoes in gallon pots, and peppers in 16 ounce cups by May 15. This year I started the eggplants and peppers in mid February to give them 10-12 weeks since they take longer to germinate and get going. Didn't get my tomatoes started until yesterday, but the March 1 date worked quite well. For squash and cukes, I wait until April, as they grow quickly, and do not pot up well the way toms do. Beans - I would sow outside around the last frost date. Melons - similar to squash, but I'd wait until 2 weeks before last frost, as they prefer lots of heat. Garlic - I plant this in the fall, it starts growing, overwinters, then gets going quickly in spring... not sure if you'll get much from a spring planting. Okra - similar to melons - loves the heat. Corn - inside 2 weeks before last frost, or outside after danger of frost Cabbage - start it now - same with broccoli, kale, chard, lettuces, cauliflower etc. - they are cool season crops and can handle some frost. Onions - the nice thing with onions is that you can grow a bunch of seedlings in a cup, and separate them and plant them out. I'd also start those now.

I sure hope not, because we're gathering the supplies to start ours right this very minute! :-) No, really though, I don't think it's too early. I've actually spoken to quite a few people who started theirs two weeks ago, or more! I'm not entirely sure, but it might even be a bit late for beans--maybe someone else could cover that? I'm aiming for 7-8 weeks indoors, and everyone has told me that Mother's Day is generally considered the earliest date to put seeds in the ground here (central NJ--might be sooner further south?). A lot probably depends on your light situation indoors too. We have a light setup so we can get them big and string indoors. If you're going to be relying on natural light for your seedlings, you might have a harder time. That's my newbie .02. I hope someone will correct me if I'm wrong!

Well, starting onion seeds in January is in my calendar. So the asking. But onion is just a low priority. I could just go to store and buy a pack. Not particularly picky. But I think it is worth asking. The GW trading is just a hit and miss. A lot of folks list things for trade, but rarely available. Even the seeds....

I'm learning too, so take my (extremely spammy) advice with a grain of salt. I start seeds early so I can transplant them into my garden, so hopefully my advice will help. When using seeds from last year, depending on the type of plant, the amount of seed that may still be viable will vary from type to type. Some seeds last seemingly forever, while others need to be planted the same year they were collected. Do some research online to find out. Be careful with potting soil. Many brands can be too thick in texture and full of things like fertilizer, which can affect your seedlings' ability to grow. It's better to get seed starter soil, or soil that's lighter in texture. As for florescent lighting versus LED: not all light from bulbs will work for growing. It all depends on your setup, what you're growing, what sort of budget you have, and if you're growing indoors or just starting plants to place outdoors when spring arrives. The last one is important because the larger and more mature the plant, the more light you'll need. If you're just starting seeds indoors, most types of florescent lights should do the trick, though more experienced people here may have better ideas. Florescent lights are generally inexpensive and widely available, which is probably why that site recommended them. Since this'll be in a greenhouse, you'll have to consider things like moisture (ie, will the light fixture be okay being in a greenhouse year after year?), how you'll hang your lights, and how you'll space them around your seedlings. I grow in the basement, so I use a wire shelving unit and raise the seed beds to the light. If you can't hang your lights from the ceiling, you can possibly affix your lights to a frame (you can make your own with wood, pipes, repurposed shelves, buy kits, etc) and put them on small chains with s-hooks, so you can bring them up as the plants get higher. I plug my lights into a timer so that they're not on 24/7, which saves electricity.