seed starting

What is the best way to start them? I have a few that I started come up (peas, beans, cucumbers and tomatos) but the eggplants, peppers and most of the tomatos havn't come up. how long should I wait before trying again? i am trying the paper towel method with the peppers, and the rest are in cups/pots with the cheap walmart potting soil with a little organinc soil on top. I would also like to start more cucumbers, peas and beans closer to gardening time what is the best way to do this? (I am planning 2 rows each of peas and beans and 1 -1/2 rows each of 2 types of cucumbers and only have space for a few of each) this is also my first year gardening.
Thanks in advance.

Cheap wal mart soil will not help matters trust me. I tried Scotts premium which is middle of the road in price and I have had fair results. I would get better potting soil and make sure you have good lighting. I realized the hard way the lights are essential.

Even though I'm generally against Miracle Gro products (because I'm just not sure what's in there...), I had amazing luck using the Miracle Gro Moisture-Control soil mixed with seed starting medium. The Miracle Gro was, I think, $5.00 for a 10 pound bag (or something like that). It's AMAZING. I haven't had ANY damping off problems, and it's a very light, easy to work with soil. I bought it because, surprise, it was the only soil at the garden center that wasn't absolutely waterlogged from being left in the rain. I'm afraid I've been temporarily converted, at least for the purpose of seed starting. I've found most cheap soil to be too heavy and too prone to becoming packed down, which makes it very difficult for little seeds to push their way through the top. As for peas and beans, you might have better luck if you soak them overnight in a pill bottle of room temp. water, because their seed coats are so dense. Peppers are fairly fickle germinators. They need constant warmth in order to emerge--I think about 70 degrees is ideal, but warmer is always better. Tomatoes are my specialty, maybe because I've always had great luck in germinating them and bringing them to adulthood. I'm not sure what to suggest, then, though they may be too wet, which can mold the seed beneath the soil and render it useless.

Another thought is that you may have planted all of your seeds too deep, which often results in poor germination. Tomato seeds, in particular, should be planted rather shallowly. I use the "criss-cross" method (I think I came up with that myself). Basically, I take the barest tip of my index finger and make a a very shallow "x" in the soil. I then drop one seed at each of the four tips of the "x." If I'm feeling frugal, I only use two seeds. Then, I lightly brush the disturbed soil back over the seeds. When the seeds start sprouting, I cull out all but the strongest one or two seedlings. This has always worked for me.

Sorry for the novel! Good luck!!

-Kelsie

I will keep that in mind for next year since I posted the rest of my cucumbers have come up and 5 of 6 tomatos but I am still waiting on the eggplants.