Starting Seeds For Spring - advice from Massachusetts

From MOTHER EARTH NEWS http://bit.ly/14HonXr :

What to grow?

This gardener from Massachusetts grows tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash (usually summer but sometimes winter as well), corn, cucumbers, onions, beans, broccoli, lettuce, Swiss chard, beets, & carrots.

When to transplant outdooors?

The last frost date in Massachusetts is Memorial Day (May 31st) and if you’re from NE you know you NEVER plant anything (cold weather crops excluded) in the ground before then.

Broccoli is one of the few plants that can be planted outside before Memorial Day. Usually around the end of April is a good time.

The last things to plant are the vegetables that prefer to be direct seeded. Meaning they don’t like to be transplanted so it’s better to plant them directly in the garden. All of your root crops fall into this category, carrots, beets, radishes, turnip etc. as well as beans.

What indoor lights to use?

T5 fluorescent grow lights, such as a Sunleaves Pioneer Jr. Lighting fixture, for everything started indoors. T5’s are higher output fluorescent lights that help prevent the seedlings from getting too tall and “leggy” due to lack of light.

What is the potting mix?

A light well draining soil like Pro Mix or Black Gold Seedling Mix is used to germinate the seeds in.

References:

Starting Seeds For Spring - Grow It! - MOTHER EARTH NEWS http://bit.ly/14HonXr
Tips For Growing Vegetables From Seed | http://bit.ly/14HpZQZ