They need light, first thing in the morning, then about 14 - 16 a day. The other seeds will either germinate within a few days or they won't. I have had a seed germinate as much as two weeks behind it's seed mates. (After I had transplanted a single seedling into a growing cell, another would sprout, in with the older one.)

I know it isn't easy, at least it isn't easy for me, but be patient. Keep the starting medium moist, but not over wet as you don't want to drown anything.

Bets

If you can see the seedling, then it needs to be in the light. As Bets said, the seeds will continue to germinate, but the emerged seedling will keep reaching up to try to find enough light. I plant in individual soil blocks or pots so that I can remove the seedling as soon as germination occurs and get it under light. I NEVER use a dome cover on seedlings, and in the sun they would fry quickly in an enclosed container. The purpose of the dome is to control the moisture and temperature for germination. Also, a new seedling wants light, but cannot be put in the strong sunlight outside right away.

soonergrandmom

FWIW, I DO put my just-germinated seedlings directly outside on the deck when the temps are 55 or higher, have been doing it for years. I don't have room under my lights for the larger containers they go in, so out they go on balmy days in either direct or indirect sunlight. (Even indirect sunlight is much brighter than artificial light.) As the true leaves develop, they immediately produce the tougher cuticles and shorter cell tissue structures that hardening off plants accomplishes.

The seedlings are safe, don't have to be hardened off, if they have developed ONLY the cotyledons when you first put them outside. If they've developed one or more sets of true leaves under artificial lights before you do this, then they must be hardened off to allow the physiological changes to occur that are needed for plants to thrive in the natural elements.

Cover off and under the light or to the sun just as soon as they sprout. No cover once sprouted. The rest of the seeds will come along or not.

Dave

About 1-3 days after the seedlings break through the soil (usually when first set of leaves has been fully opened for at least half a day or so), I put them in sunlight.

Thanks all, will remove cover when I go home tonight and get them in the sun starting tomorrow morning. Will keep cells moist enough to accomodate seedlings and to encourage ungerminated seeds to do so. Looked like there were about 100 up as of this morning, but certain varieties are still at 0 up, so I do want to try to get those to germinate at least a few.