I learned my lesson last year to actually wait to plant outdoors until at least one week (two is recommended) after your areas last frost date. Ours is estimated to be April 29th so I planned my plants to go outside about a week into the beginning of May.
Last year I planted the end of April because it was really warm but then a frost came so I was outside for hours, very late and cold putting buckets and plastic bags over my plants so the frost wouldn't kill them.
How do you combat the insect problem? Besides the pain of finding eggs, collecting bugs and killing them. Have you heard of or tried companion planting for protection?
Companion plants are anything from other vegetables, herbs or flowers that you plant near other plants and it either improves their disease resistance, strengthens their roots, adds flavor to the actual fruit/veggie production or keep bugs away.
Something like growing horseradish near potatoes increases the potatoes resistance to diseases. Oregano with peppers keeps humidity. Basil improves growth, flavor and disease resistance when planted with tomatoes. Beans planted with corn that grow up the stock not only don't need a trellis but beans add nitrogen to the soil which corn loves.
Marigolds and nasturtium flowers are great for keeping bugs away. I just placed an order for 500 seeds of a plant called borage.
Planting 250 of them this year allover the garden, I mean almost everywhere. They are considered a "magic bullet" in gardening because they attract many beneficial insects, keep away soooooo many bad bugs and improve the growth of almost any plant.
Picture of borage...had to order because nobody anywhere around here carries seeds
Oh, and the borage is edible, the leaves taste like celery and the flower can be used as a garnish in drinks or on desserts or in salads.
Also, a link to wikipedia that has many, many companion plants, what they help with, what to avoid.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companion_plants