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We start many of our seeds in peat pellets and then transplant them into peat pots when they get bigger.  We do this to extend our growing season, because it is so short in Eastern Idaho.  We are at a 5,000 foot elevation at the edge of a high desert, and at a 43.9 latitude.  This is also a zone three climate.

During the day we take the seedlings out to our greenhouse for the sun, then we bring them into the house in the evening.  Some freeze tolerant vegetables we plant in the greenhouses before we can plant outside in our garden.

  So, by using our greenhouses to extend the growing season, so that it starts earlier and ends later, we can eat fresh vegetables over a much longer period of time.  This greatly reduces the amount of food that we have to preserve in order to have it throughout the rest of the year. 

The picture on the left is showing our seedlings in peat pellets.  The picture in the center shows the same plants.  And the picture on the right shows lettuces and peas in the greenhouse.  The outside overnight temperatures have been 13 to 25 degrees, so the tomato and bell pepper plants have to rotate inside the house until the overnight temperatures are above freezing.