when can i start sowing seeds for spring?

[earth]

hi, i missed spring last year...infact all the last years.... this year i am waiting for spring like never before. i want to grow lot of flowers in my small patio (that is all i have) especially petunia & million bells hanging baskets. Yes my patio does get sun but evening sun and the temperatures are pretty high here in north california. i know nothing about how to grow flowers from seeds.
Pls do let me know what is the correct time for sowing seeds?
thanks!

[rainbowgardener]

Assuming you are starting them indoors, sow your petunia or other flower seeds 6 to 8 weeks before you want them to be ready to move outside.

When you are ready to transition them to outside, remember that they need to harden off gradually, don't just stick them out on the patio, start them in a protected spot where they are out of the wind and will get just a few hours of sun.

[MysticGardener67]

There is no 'wrong' time to start seding. so long as you can protect from the occasional rogue frost.
Ummm.. most annuals start pretty easily from seed, start off with the easiest ones, Marigolds, Zinnia and such...

Stumbled across this article
http://www.gardeners.com/Growing-Annual-Flowers-from-Seed/5663,default,pg.html

I hope it will be helpful
Might also want to pick the brains of the employees at the local non-corporate garden center, gardenshop, or nursery

[earth]

Thanks...then i will sow petunia in January so that they have 8 weeks to grow indoors!
Thanks Mystic gardner- they link is great!