No. In the past every seed I have ever tried to grow has died. Last year, after reading and re-reading and re-re-reading Jill's seed planting tutorials, I bought a bunch of pepper seeds from a co-op and determined that I was GOING to grow seeds and they were GOING to live!! Peppers love Texas weather, and I had step by step by step instructions - how hard could it be??
So I bought the seeds and my sweet husband put up some shelves and some fluorescent lights on adjustable chains, and I started the seeds. And they grew and grew, and I misted them and babied them, and they grew and they grew...
And they finally got big enough to plant outside, so I took them outside in the spot I had prepared for them, and carefully set them out and labeled them. I had a bunch of seedlings left (because I had planted ALL of the seeds, expecting some of them to die (did I mention I usually kill seeds??), and they had ALL made it, so I had zillions of them), so I potted the rest of the seedlings in tiny pots and took them to church and foisted them on all of my friends there.
The seedlings grew and grew... but only a couple of them fruited. I think we got 2 peppers out of all of those (DOZENS! of) plants. I thought that spot would have enough sun, but it turns out it really doesn't. I had friends stopping me in church for months, though, telling me how great the peppers they were harvesting were. I thought about asking them to share, but decided that would sound a little too pathetic.
So... right now the little atrium that I started the seeds in is filled with wallboard and wheelbarrows and assorted other tools, and although the shelves and lights are still out there, I'm not sure I can get to them.
Long story short (I know - it's wayy too late for that!
) if I plant a fall/winter garden, I think I'll buy my seedlings from the nursery.