So now that I have everything I need, it's time to start planting seeds.

I start by filling all of the trays with seedling dirt. I don't pack the soil in hard, as I want the roots to have room to move and grow. But I do gently push down on it to ensure I didn't leave any big air pockets.

Then I pull out my seed packets and figure out which seeds will go where, how many I am going to plant, etc. I usually try to do my plantings in sets of 6 since that is how the trays of 72 break down. That makes it easier later when you need to move things around as you transplant plants into bigger seedling pots. I lay them out on the trays until I have every bit of it planned.

Then I get out my plant markers and mark where all the seeds will go. This way I can move the seedling packets off the dirt and set them to the side.

Then I water the dirt. Not too much - you don't want it soaked. You just want the dirt to be wet. 

I then use the bottom end of my permanent marker to make a hole in each cell. Look at your seed packets beforehand to see the depth you need to go on your seeds. Often times they are very similar, but you may get something that would prefer to be planted deeper.

Next I begin putting seeds into the holes. Depending on the number of seeds I have, the size of them, etc. I may put more than one seed in each hole. Sometimes you don't have a choice - either the seed is way too small to accurately get only one seed each time, or you only have a limited number of seeds and can only put one in each hole. Germination rates are under 100%, which means you will have some seeds that do not grow. You can also thin down your plants later if you end up with too many in a single spot.

Once I have the seeds in, put a little more dirt on top to cover the seeds. Then use a water bottle to lightly spray the tops of the dirt. This helps keep seeds moist.

Next I cover with the clear cover of your greenhouse and set them in a spot where they aren't going to be bumped and will be warm.

Even though your packets may say it takes 10+ days for a seed to germinate, I find that many of mine have popped up within 3-5 days. Don't worry if they haven't, though - some of mine have taken two weeks. It just depends on the seed.

Make sure the top of your dirt stays moist. I keep a spray bottle by the plants so that I can mist them to keep them moist.

Once your seedlings emerge, they need light. And not just a regular lamp, but sunlight or light from specially made grow bulbs. After several unsuccessful attempts to grow plants from seeds, I decided to invest in a grow light and stand. The light is 4' long and has 6 fluorescent tubes. In combination with a stand - which the light hangs from and is adjustable - I am able to cover my entire dining room table in light. This helps the seedlings to grow.

I try to keep the room warm and leave the lights on for about the same amount of time that there is daylight outside. This will vary depending on where you live. For most of the day I'll take the plastic tops off so that the plants receive more light, but I will recover them in the evening so that they can hold onto heat and moisture overnight. I stop using the tops once the plants get too tall.

At this point it's all about keeping your plants watered, warm, and with daytime light. Once the plants grow, they will put out roots that stick out the bottom of the planter. This means you can pour water directly into the bottom watering tray and the plants will absorb the water that way. But be sure to continue spraying any spots where plants haven't popped up yet.