Thanks Caroline for the information. I'm way past done with ws'ing. Weather has been spring like since the middle of Feb for me. Do not get me wrong, I'm still sowing, just spring sowing as we still get chilly nights. Days are very warm though. One of my gardening friends is doing the vermiculite you are talking about and I'll be passing this information along. I almost bought vermiculite today and now that I have read this it's time to make a decision as my beds are not necessarily ready and this might be the better way to go for now.