It's my first year, too. I was told that (if I had no heating pad) putting the seed tray on top of the rerrigerator - for germination - would ensure a steady temp of ~70 (the refrigerator itself would generate the temp)
I havewn't put a thermometer up there to see if this was true or not.
I also was told that if I used an electric blanket (unfolded, of course...and UNDER the seed flat), then it could be used to provide bottom heat.
Since I believe in "Betrter safe than sorry" and support wearing a belt AND using suspenders at the same time.......I used a thermostatically -controlled heat mat!!
