The winter sowing forum is where you should ask this: those folks know everything about/how to start seeds early. Hope this helps.

I've never started seeds this late in the winter-sowing fashion, but the w.s. forum also has info about spring-sowing.

You probably won't have to keep shuffling them around as much as you think. Once the seeds have germinated (and this will occur much faster if you can provide some bottom heat), you'll be able to introduce them to the outside pretty quickly. I wouldn't even worry about bringing them in unless the temps are to drop below 40 or some less.

Remember that not all veggies should be grown in pots for later transplanting; direct sowing is best for many of our favorites. I don't want you to make it harder for yourself than you should. Want to share your list with us, so we can save you a few steps?

Anyhoo, protect seedlings from direct sun initially, but they should adjust pretty quickly to outdoor living.

I will add that the type of potting medium you use makes a big difference in how well your seedlings grow and respond. If they struggle in a mucky, peaty mix they will have problems with disease, sun scald, etc. Make sure that the medium is coarse and fast draining.

Additionally, there are many vegetables that should go out now. A list of what you are starting will help.

That's right....it's almost getting TOO late to plant out some of the cool season crops in the Opelika area.

Thank you for the replies. They are helpful, although I think my ignorance has introduced some confusion. Let me clarify:

I've started to germinate plants that they say can start eight weeks from planting, so tomatoes, eggplant, thyme, jalapeno and thai pepper. The tomatoes and thyme have germinated, the eggplant needs another week (according to the packet), and I'm anticipating problems with the jalapenos and thai pepper plants. There seems to be an art to getting them started.

I'm more or less following the advice from seed savers, so a few seeds are also going straight into the ground later (like watermelon).

So, unless I've completely messed something up, I think rhizo kindly answered my question: I can keep the growing seedlings outside, as long as no cold front (or harsh weather in general) comes through.

I'll reiterate: I'm very new at this, and I don't want to take up your time with silly questions.

MiKru, the only silly questions are the ones you don't ask!

Tomatoes, eggplants and peppers all like warmer weather - I agree with Rhizo that if you harden them off (put them out in a protected area for a short time the first day, a bit longer the second, keep increasing the time until they are out all day), they will benefit from being outdoors. Since they are warm weather plants, I would bring them inside if night temps dip below 40 - they struggle if they get too cold, even if it's not quite frost weather (ask me how I know...)

Peppers are long germinators - I started a large flat with tomatoes & peppers about 10 days ago - all the tomatoes are up, but only one or two of the peppers are starting to break through. Not time to worry yet.

Enjoy, & good luck!

I would mostly keep the trays inside and warm until the eggplant and peppers germinate. They like a soil temp of >70F to germinate.

It sounds like you are doing great so far.

Thanks everybody -- these were all very helpful. As it happens a few peppers and eggplants poked through today!