Question
Hi Tom,
This is my first attempt at starting from seed.  I am attempting to start tomato & pepper seeds to transplant.  I live in Michigan, & am starting them in flats over a heat mat - using 2 4' fluroscent tubes.  They seeds are in the basement with the lights about 2-3 inches overhead.  I used a stardard potting mixture - got them moist - and they started to sprout.  I had been using a cover to keep the moisture in & the temp higher.  After a couple of days, I left the cover off for an afternoon to let some fresh air in.  The next day... everything appears dead.  Should I have left the cover on?  Will the seeds come back?  Should I just scrap it, and try again?  Any help is greatly appreciated..

Thanks,
Erik

Answer
Hi Erik,
Thanx for your question.  Make sure the temperature in the area you are growing your tomato and pepper seeds is 70-80 degrees F and constant when germinating.  After germination, temps can be lowered to 60-70 which actually helps the plants not become so leggy.  Peppers take longer to germinate than tomatoes.  Tomatoes take 5-7 days and peppers up to 21 days or longer.  Remember to keep the soil moist but not soggy.  If you let it dry out, the seedlings die quickly.  Warmth, light plus moist soil will be the best for your seedlings.  If everything appears dead does that mean it is dried up and shriveled or did everything kind of fall over but it's still green?  Sometimes you can revive them with a quick drink of water but too many times will shock the plants and results in poor specimens that will produce poorly if they survive.  Best to start over in my book.  I hope this helps.
Tom  

P.S.  shop lights should be 40-watt flourescent.