Put the cell pack closely under the lights now to prevent the germinated seedlings from getting leggy. The remaining seeds should pop up with the warmer soil temps from the lights. Keep the entire cell pack evenly moist. I start my tomato seeds under lights before germination.

really thought they needed darkness and warmth to germinate

Hi Maggie-they do. They'll get the darkness requirement of photosynthesis when you turn off the lights at night, and they'll get the warmth for germination from the lights. Make sure to turn your lights off at night.

The darkness in photosynthesis is for the germinated seedlings, while the night darkness will satisfy the darkness for those ungerminated seedlings. Hope that doesn't confuse you :)

thanks tuscanseed

will put them under the lights right now!

They get their 'darkness' because you've buried them in the soil. Those that require light to germinate need to be sown on top of the soil. Tomato seed germination can definitely be suppressed by exposure to light.

Seed germination rate varies because of seed depth, seed-to-soil contact (moisture absorption), as well as other variables. It wouldn't be unusual for this to happen, unless the seeds are sown by mechanical seeders.

well, that makes sense also. So, just for the sake of not losing any, I can open the door of the room they are in, I can take off the towel they are under! Provide warmth and place under lights as soon as any sprouts appear as tuscanseed advised. Believe it or not, I am not new to this as last year had a nice heirloom selection and wound up giving so, so many away. But, so simple, they are in the soil and it is dark down there!!