Well, let's see. Typically, it is far easier and far more successful to plant cucs, squash, corn, and bean seeds into the soil of your garden. They do not like pots. If their roots hit the bottom of the pot, they will stop growing. Yes, I know that they are sold that way at garden centers (at least cucs and squash), but if those babies have been in the pots more than 2 weeks, they won't do well. Seedlings that are unhappy with their root space will inevitably start to look sick, because they are.

If I were you, I would throw out those and just plant fresh seed in the garden, ASSUMING your ground is ready (tilled, amended, raked, etc.) and your weather is ready (last frost date past, days warm, and night time lows at or above 55 degrees).

As to your starting medium. Does the bag say "MIX" or "SOIL"? The fact that it is cracking makes me wonder if you got a bargain brand soil that has soil in it. Dirt doesn't do well in pots. Compost does. Potting Mix does. Dirt does not.

The trick to germinating tomatoes and peppers seed is 1) the right potting mix, 2) the right temperature, which is warm: in the mid 70s to high 80s, 3) the right light (as much as possible, either outside or under flourescents for 16 hours a day, and 4)constantly moist but not soppy wet conditions. This is achieved by putting your flats inside a plastic storage box or into a big plastic bag, etc.

The quickest way I know to kill newly germinated seedlings is to over water them. Every few days, stick your finger into the soil about an inch deep, then rub your thumb and finger together. Feel moist? DON'T water. Feel dry? Water and then water a day sooner next time. I typically only need to water my seedlings once a week. Anymore and you risk damping off and other nasty things.

This is me being shocked. Please forgive me. What on earth is the hydrogen peroxide about? Knock it off. (If I am ignorant about some new technique, you can be sure that somebody will hasten to correct me.) Sorry if I sound like a know it all.

Do not despair. All is not lost. My daddy would call this very cheap education. So don't give up. Start again. If you don't have six weeks left to start new tomatoes and peppers, just go buy transplants and try again next year. You'll do better.

Oh, and next year, visit the Seed Starting Forum. Those folks know all the ins and outs, and you will learn lots from them!

tengreenfingers.. go get tomato and pepper translplants for this year, it's too late to start them from seed in your zone this year. You want to start them 8 to ten weeks in advance of transplanting, prob sometime in early to mid March. I would also agree with just direct sowing the cucurbits, they come up pretty quick.

P.s. Colby Sawyer class of 2000 graduate here... miss it up there!

Also, I just noticed that you are using a water softener.. that may be part of your issue, those tend to add a lot of salt to your water and are generally not reccomended to use for irrigating plants...

Let me guess - you bought the Jiffy "Organic" Seed starting mix this year? Gold foil-like package? Notice the difference in the texture and consistency? Been lots of complaints about it over on the Growing from Seed forum here the past 2 years since it came out.

Yes it gets crusty, no it is not sterile - has all sorts of composted chicken manure and feather meal added - and yes, germination rates seem to be very reduced.

Even the traditional Jiffy mix gets very mixed reviews at best but the so-called "organic" stuff seems to be causing folks even more problems than the traditional mix ever did.

Sorry for all the problems but for next year it really is worth investing a bit more in a quality, sterile seed starting mix. There are many brands available. ProMix BX is often recommended as the best but Johnny's also sells a good one as do several other seed suppliers. Fox Farm is another brand I have seen good reviews on.

Dave