Don't plant the seeds too shallow or they will have trouble sloughing off the seed coat I plant mine in seed starting medium 1/4 inch deep, then add 1/4 inch finely milled sphagnum peat moss over the top to prevent damping off. If you're starting them indoors and have trouble with gnats, top the containers off with a thin layer of sand - it stops them cold.

If you wintersow your tomato seeds you'll avoid the bug and fungal problems, but your plants will germinate later. I prefer the earlist harvest possible so I always start them indoors. Have fun!

HTH,
Jeanne

What Jeanne said. Add - join un on the winter sowing forum for sowing seeds OUTDOORS in winter. You will love it. Post over there and tell them Bakemom sent you.