We might have had beginner’s luck but we direct sowed our corn, lettuce, beans, cucumbers, and potatoes (do they count?) according to local wisdom which is merely “wait until after Mother’s Day” and they all grew great. Too great in some cases—we’re staggering the beans and corn over several plantings this time so we don’t get clobbered all at once with the harvest. We cheated with the tomatoes and peppers and bought plants. In the future I want to collect and start my own seedlings like you’re doing.
Local wisdom also says “don’t dig your potatoes until after Labor Day” and that panned out well too. I guess listening to elderly farmers is about as good as the Almanac :-)