I was thinking April orgionally for peppers and Tomatos but its been really nice out, do you think I could start cool weather crops like lettice out on an unheated deck. or should i wait?.

I started mine March 18th last year, in two inches of unfrozen soil placed on top of frozen soil, and it worked very well. Soon, very soon.

maye the 20th then

In zone 4, we'll be starting seed of tomatoes and peppers inside, of course. The earlier you start, the large the transplants you will have. I start my tomatoes inside April first. Peppers about March 10. Peppers need warm temps to germinate well, at least 70F, without going down at night. 80F is much better. For me, plants don't need to be big, they just need to be healthy.

For cool weather crops like lettuce and radishes (apparently, I'm in the minority of people who like radishes ), whenever the soil is workable is fine. Planting in soil on top of frozen soil, as Chelle describes, is fine too. If it is too cold, the seeds will just wait until the time is right to come up.

I did say to Roots hydro organics - bisness that's going to grow my stuff- that I'd do it in April,

I don't have room or enough light at my house to grow seeds properly but they do and said they would be happy to help. In return they keep some of the plants which is fine by me because I'll have way more then I need.

If you go under goodies at the left-there are plant calenders for different locations.