Don't under estimate the time needed to produce quality transplants for the garden. Most seed will germinate and break through the surface of the medium in about a week, However eggplant, pepper and tomato seed may take up to 2 weeks to germinate. In addition to the germination time it can take from 6 to 7 weeks to produce a strong seedling that is ready for the garden. If you wish to start vine crops indoors, these seedlings can be ready to plant out in as little as 3 weeks. In some areas, animals feeding on direct planted seeds necessitates that you use strong seedlings.
Chipmunks can be a serious pest on seeds of vine crops, peas, and beans.
The exact time to set transplants will depend on your frost-free date, or how willing you are to use effective frost protection measures to fool Mother Nature this spring. Robert Nuss is a horticulturist at Penn State. He coordinates all extension horticulture programs. He has bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in ornamental horticulture and has been on the Penn State faculty since 1966.