Germination is just as good as always. If you want to be certain, especially with the cost of seeds nowdays, then treat yourself to an electic propagator. One of the main reasons that seeds fail is because of the low night temperatures which interrupts germination and causes the seeds to rot. I buy fresh seed and only sow half the packet at first so I have a back-up if the first sowing fails.

As above...get an electirc prop...the results will amaize you.

You can make your own using a plastic gravel tray and reptile heat mats available from ebay. Ive done this and occasionally, the seed trays only sit half on the mat. As a result, the "warm" half germinate sometimes days before the half that isn't on the mat.

Probably got near 100% germination on all my toms, peppers and chillis.

no problems at all ! did them in the kitchen in pots.

I have mine in an unheated greenhouse, and yes, they did take longer to germinate (all 3 varieties) this year and I was getting a tad concerned, and then, all of a sudden, after about 3 weeks, all 3 lots started to pop up over the same night and now all are well away. JTO is probably right about the low overnight temperatures.

the problem I have had is that during the hot spell the greenhouse got too hot and on one day I forgot to take the lid off the propagator I thought they all 'fried' but 12 days on I have 80% gerination now.

Germinated mine on a south facing windowsill - other half not too pleased but after a few days moved to a shed with south facing window. All OK.

Thanks all for your input. Sbg I wonder now if mine have been too hot with the recent hot weather forgetting this weeks snow they were sown around 2 /3 weeks ago and the auto vent in greenhouse has failed to open a few times the greenhouse is heated so the cold is not a problem.