First let me say that my past history has never been good at transplanting seeds that I've started indoors, EVER. They die during the hardening off and many times on the very first day! I'm not sure what I do wrong, but it happens.

That said which do you think is the best option?

Option 1: Start seeds using the baggie method. Place seeds started mix directly in my garden bed and gently place sprouts in that.

Option 2: Start seeds using the baggie method. When they sprout gently plant them in a container and try to harden them off by praying.

Option 3: Just purchase a $10 florescent light and sprout seeds using flats, followed by planting directly in the garden.

Option 4: Just purchase a $10 florescent light and sprout seeds using flats, then harden them off and pray.

Option 5: Sow seeds directly in the garden (using seed starter mix) and cover the raised bed with plastic at night, when it's cool.

Option 6: Something else I've not thought of that you may know.

If I had to pick, I'd probably go with #5, but it is sometimes getting down to the mid-40's at night, though probably not for much longer. Is that too cool to try it that way?

Oh and as for seeds, it's peppers, squash, beans, peas and carrots.

Squash, beans, carrots and peas can all be direct sowed into the garden AFTER your last frost date, actually they prefer it. They can take cold soil but not freezing temps. You can cover them at night with plastic if you want to plant early, but I do not think it will speed up the growth rate to get an earlier crop by too much. If you do cover them, make sure the plastic is not touching the plant. Also, you can just start them in regular 'good' gardening soil, they do not need seed starting soil. You should amend your garden soil with compost if needed for good drainage and lots of good microbes.

Now peppers.. pepper love the heat and you will have to start those early inside if you want a crop at a reasonable time. I would put them in a container (cell pack, or repurposed food container like a yogurt tub) fill with seed starting soil, cover and put them in a warm spot like on top of your fridge or cable box. The soil should be kept moist but not wet. In 4-10 days they will germinate and at that time will need to go under bright lights placed about 2-3" above their top leaves. After 4-5 weeks they will be ready to go into the garden after being hardened off.

Hardening off......This is what I do. I put them in 100% shade and out of the wind for 2 hours the first morning (then bring them back inside), the next morning I add a bit of time, like 30 more minutes and give them brief (20 mins) filtered sun. I keep increasing this over a 7-10 day period until they can withstand noon-day sun. I always make sure they can handle full morning sun before they get even 10 mins of the hot noon-day sun. You can keep yours in the shade longer if you are nervous, but you can�t start them out in sun sooner.

Make sure you plant your peppers when the soil is warm, not just the air temps

I hope that helps!

Keriann~

Al: My question was quite clear, "which do you think is the best option?" No worries though. It looks like there is no one option anyway, so that explains it for me.

Californian: Thank you! I agree. The reason I was hesitant is the late frost or soil temperature problem. It's much later in the season when you do it that way. Wow! You're in zone 10 so you probably don't have that problem! ;)