bon100

I don't know if that would do it or not but you can certainly try it. If you're covering the germination container with plastic, just be sure to remove each seedling immediately after it germinates and plant it in a container. And make sure the plastic cover has some air-holes in it. The problem is what to do with the germinated seedlings if it works. They need light and heat both to continue developing, and you say you don't have them inside.

I'd suggest you "winter-sow" them instead. Just plant your seeds in containers, like 2-liter soda bottles with the cut-off top, about the top four inches, taped back on (provide drainage holes and leave the screw-on lid off) or milk containers done the same way, and set them in the sun outside to stay, night and day. Keep the soil moist, not wet. When they germinate, you can gradually expose them to the elements by untaping the top and "giving them air" on balmy days. When they're growing well, just leave the tops off and plant when the time is right.

Actually, my advice is pretty spotty, so you'd be better off going to the Winter Sowing forum for better details and timing. Trudi has even provided how-to-make container pictures you can use for seed germination.

As I say, I'd recommend this way of seed starting if you don't have indoor heat and light for them. With your method, I'd worry about what to do with the seedlings if they germinated, particularly if outside conditions are not optimal for setting them outside permanently. With winter sowing, the seedlings germinate when everything's "go" and they can stay outside with a little care, hardening off naturally.

From my experience your thoughts might work. A few things of concern would be like mentioned make sure the tops have slits or ventilation holes in them. They will need that or they will get too hot. Like mentioned on another thread I have experimented the last two years with direct sowing seeds in the garden in plastic buckets with plastic over the top and also in WOW's. I also by accident had a few I sowed in cowpots and the weather got bad and then I got busy germinate inside and I moved them to the garden in WOW's and they have done fine. Growing well. So yes it can be done. Controlling the heat is the number one concern. I cooked one seedling last year. If the sun is bright it can happen at 70 degrees. So a ventilation hole is mandatory in my opinion. I also have some in a cold frame. In fact I'm using one to harden off my indoors starts as I pot them up. I don't have time to do it the way that many do. If you try it i would do it with a few and see how it works. Try different methods and see which works best for you. JMO. Jay