In our last fun filled episode, Wed, 18 Jun 2003 05:32:01 -0600,
"Darwin Vander Stelt" proclaimed:

I have had problems getting Basil to start from seed in a raised bed
outdoors. I even covered the seed with a peat moss-soil-vermiculite mixture
that wouldn't crust. I sprinkle it once or twice a day . .could it be that
the new seedlings, which have very tiny leaf surfaces, are getting destroyed
in the sprinkling? How do you do it?

You don't say what USDA zone you're in or what the current night
time lows are. My first guess would be that it's too cool for
the seeds to germinate, my second would be that you're
over-watering and they're damping off.

Basil reseeds itself for me every year, although with the cool,
wet spring we've had, I'm just now starting to see a lot of
plants. Except for the lemon basil...yikes! It's like a lemon
basil invasion in the back garden.

Pam