Lots of questions

Ok, I'm a newbie to SFG AND planting anything. I live in Hampstead, NC 28443. I am trying to figure out where we are at on the seasonal calendar, which zone, etc.
First off, am I in the correct regional forum.

I understand that the dates for last spring frost (LSF), etc are not set in stone, BUT, I have found some websites list my area as Zone7, others 8.
I am also trying to figure what i can plant that will still succeed. I look in the back of the All New SFG book and there is a great planting chart for alot of veggies: seeds 2 wks before LSF, plants at LSF, etc. I am a bit confused by the commercial instructions on the packaging of seeds, plants and so on. Also, if cabbage is a cool crop, why then is there a ton of transplants available at my big box store, etc.

I don't know if this makes sense or if this is even the best place to post this, but any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Jim

April 1st, is my OFFICIAL start to my SFG Experience / Experiment. (we'll find out soon enough if this is going to end up being a big April fools joke)
That is the day that I built my boxes. I made 2 - 4x4 boxes out of 2x6 untreated lumber. I stapled weed cloth under them. I cleared the grass out from below them, too.

I made Mel's mix with Vermiculite, Peat moss and compost. I was only able to find 3.5 types of compost: Mushroom, Cow manure, Hen manure and "Organic" compost w/ cow manure.

I mapped out my squares and I put some plants in yesterday, April 3rd.
I have some seeds I want to plant hopefully Monday.
I have only selected things we currently use or eat now.

Please give me your input regarding things like, my selections, placement, qty, etc.
Also, which plants will be continual harvest, etc.

(btw, my box placement may not be the best, but will have to do for now...the lower left corners of my boxes (corn and cilantro) are pointing east, the upper right (cantalope & butter beans) are pointing West)

Eggplant	Romaine	Oregano	Cantalope
plant	plant	seed	plant
x1	x4	x1	x1
3-Apr	3-Apr	?
Rosemary	Jalepeno	Cauliflower
?	plant	plant
?	x1	x1
?	?	3-Apr
Lettuce	Broccoli	Yellow Bell	Pole Bean
??	plant	plant	???
x4	x1	x1	???
10-Apr	3-Apr	?	????
Corn	Carrot	Leaf Lettuce	Tomato
seed	seed	plant	plant
x4	x100*	x4	x1
?	?	3-Apr	??

(The carrot seed package says to thin to 1"...Can I do this or is 16 the max?)

Carrot	Basil	Leaf Lettuce	ButterBeans
seed	seed	plant	seed
x100*	x1 or x4	x4	x4
??	??	3-Apr	??
Lettuce	Strawberry?	Broccoli	Tomato
??	plant	plant	plant
x4	?	x1	x1
??	?	3-Apr	??
Cherry Tom.	Green Bell	Onion	Ital. Zucchini
plant?	plant	seed	plant
??	x1	x16	x1
??	??	??	3-Apr
Cilantro	Cauliflower	Romaine	Cukes
plant	plant	plant	plant
x1#	x1	x4	x2
3-Apr	3-Apr	3-Apr	3-Apr

(The cilantro looks like it has about 4 plants, but it came in a "plantable" pot w/ instructions to plant it pot and all...Not sure if this will turn out to be 4 plant or 1)

Thanks in advance for all your help,
Jim

Can I still plant strawberry plants and get a decent yield?

Hello ralitaco and welcome to SFG and the Forum. According to
http://www.gardenweb.com/zones/zip.cgi - where you can find your zone by zip code - you are indeed in Zone 8 and yes, you do appear to fall into the Lower South regional forum. I'm also in Zone 8 though I live just north of Dallas, TX.

IMHO you are on track for planting the veggies you have listed. If you want specific planting information for your region, a good resource is the Cooperative Extension Service in your state. You can find all the NC offices here:
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=countycenters

As per your strawberries, if you are planting transplants you may well get fruit this season. I was at my local Lowes the other day and many of the transplants they had for sale had blooms on them. The ones in my SFG are also covered in blooms. However, if you're planting from seed, you most likely will not get fruit this season.

I can't answer your cabbage question as I'm not a big fan and have never grown it in my garden.

I would stick to 16 carrots per square and see how it goes.