I am down in the Bay Area, warmer but our nighttime temps can get into the high 20's. I just started my tomato seeds last weekend. I plant the seeds in 6 oz yogurt cups with 4 holes punched in the bottom (about 3mm each). I plant in plain old Supersoil Potting Mix. I put the soil in the cups dry then soak it through really good. Plant a seed in each one then spritz once more with a pump sprayer just to make sure the seed is good and moist. I keep the cups in a plastic tray with a dome, but any kind of loose cover to keep in humidity will work. I've used a plastic Rubbermaid bin that I've drilled holes in the top. That works. I leave them in the house until they sprout. I water them about once a week using a pump sprayer so as not to disturb the soil. Soak them until water starts dripping out the holes in the bottom. In the larger yogurt cups, you don't need to water more often than every 5-7 days, but when you do water, don't be stingy. The split second they sprout (and I mean split second to keep them from bolting for sun), I move them out to my workshop, which is a Tuff Shed unheated. They go under plain old shop lights. I have some reflective insulated panels I place around the seeds. The lights provide enough heat, and the insulated panels holds the heat in well enough even on those cold nights. I leave the lights on a timer about 14 hours a day (5 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and try to keep them about 2 inches above the plants, which means you'll need to be able to adjust the height as the seedlings grow. Below is a link to my gardening blog which shows my seed set-up out in the shop. I've never had a solitary problem, and all the plants I start from seed always outperform the occasional plants I might pick up at a garden store. I buy good seeds though. Johnny's is my choice, but there are other reputable companies. When the tomatoes outgrow the yogurt cups, I move them up to the Solo (keggar cups, I call them). By then, the weather is getting close to planting and I start leaving them in the yard during the day and bringing them in at night. You'll see lots of posts on my blog under the label "Seed Starting" that has plenty of pictures. Hope this helps! Incidentally, it's the folks on this forum who taught me most everything I needed when starting my garden, so you're definitely in the right place! Here is a link that might be useful: Tomato Seed Starting

Juliany - last year I planted a cross of HURRICANE SWIRLS X WILD IRISH and it is a really strong grower. I don't know if it is the HURRICANE SWIRLS or WILD IRISH parent that is so strong. I am going to see that cross bloom this year, and I am very excited! My BUBBLE YUMMIN' MAMA cross is probably crossed with CRYSTAL SEA, HOW SWEET IT IS or BALLERINA BEAUTIFUL - I was working with those parents, but the tag blew away! I also have a SOUTH SEAS cross, but I have not germinated it yet. I might have some babies that bloom this year that won't fit my goals... so I might need a place to send them! :o) crackingtheconcrete, I have a (ROYAL RENIASSANCE x JOHN PEAT) X I WANNA PIRANHA cross from last year, and it is doing very well. It should bloom this year too. I wish I had a little more land, but I guess that means I would have to do a lot more work! :o) I like a lot of blue eyed and watermarked daylilies in the purple, lavender, pink and cream colors which often get overlooked by a lot of folks who like the bright colors. Lots of people tell me I have specific taste and daylilies they have never heard of before! I am not surprised, I am a little weird in the rest of my life, so I expect it to run over into my hobbies! LOL.

Morning glories, Heavenly Blue, Grandpa Ott and the white one that opens in the evening (the name escapes me at this time). I planted them into potting soil 2 weeks ago and they're all doing fine. Have them in southern exposure light. I will also be sowing directly into the garden in about two weeks, verbena bonariensis. The Morning Glories will be put into the ground around June 1st (they hate cold soil). Ciao, OITGAD

Planning and placing my seed order is actually on my to-do list for the day - what a timely post :0) I know for sure I will be starting: * New Guinea impatiens (Divine series - lavender, maybe another color too) * Zinnia (Uproar Rose and probably Purple Prince) * Browallia (Million Bells series, the medium blue) * Vinca (lavender, can't recall the series name, I have to look at the old seed packet, and the Polka Dot ones - white with red eye) * Impatiens (Super Elfin Blue Pearl and White) * Petunia (Celebrity Sky Blue and White - just a few for the scent and sentimental reasons) * Vegetables and herbs: Cherry tomatoes, eggplant, daikon radish, basil, green beans, and maybe a few other things as well) I will probably grow more than this, but like I said I still have to plan it all out.