Got the seeds in hand.....

[longwinters]

And in another 4 weeks I will start my plants.  3 kinds of tomato, 2-3 types winter squash, 2 different bush beans along with some short pole beans (only grow about 3' high).  Carrots, bell peppers (yellow, orange, red), onions zuchinni (green and yellow) and cukes.  Oh, and some more asparagus.  If I have room I'll also put in 4-5 broccoli plants.  Being in Zone 4 we have a fairly short growing season.

Can't wait to get started and get some of these germinated and under the grow light.

Say, what kind of grow lights do you use?  I have a HID Metal Halide that works real well.

Long

[bilmac]

I've been ordering seeds all winter long it seems like. Keep thinking of something else I want to try and remembering things I forgot. I am trying to get converted to all heirloom seeds, this is about the third year of this. Each year I save some of the seeds I raised but the next year I grow different varieties so by now I have quite a collection of viable seed.

[Bugflipper]

I used to use full spectrum incandescent lights for plants. I had them on a timer. The seedlings were in a window, then at dusk have the lights come on until daylight. The bulbs would go out and were pretty expensive. So a few years ago I just started using the corkscrew looking compact florescent. Honestly I can't tell a difference in growth rate. Though the plants are a little easier to cold harden due to less heat from the florescent. Last year I was going on vacation so I just planted them straight from the house to the garden and had no trouble. I tried that one year with the incandescent and a lot of them died. Of coarse no frost either time. Just cool Spring nights. The full spectrum put off a lot of heat, so I figured they went into shock from being too cold.

[longwinters]

My understanding is that seeds are good for maybe 4 years.  I've got some from last year that I will try to germinate, mostly to use them up and save some of the "new" seeds I have now (not open the packets).

Long