First off, if you haven't yet ordered, go over to the Pinetree Garden Seeds site. They will save you a ton of money. They also sell smaller packages, yet I got enough produce out of my garden last year to not only feed us (had the freezer not quit on us) but to save and sell/barter seeds. We had over 100 pounds of tomatoes alone, and so much zucchini that I not only sold the fruits, but also stuff I made with them besides canning and freezing. And, all Pinetree seeds are open-pollinated unless it specifically states otherwise. Lots are organically grown and harvested, too.
Pinetree Garden Seeds
Now... If you have an old shop light, a table big enough to house whatever flats you are going to use, some old newspapers and a sheet of clear plastic (cheap at home centers) you are all set.
I always use Miracle-Gro soil (I know... for shame, but gram used it and she's still kicking) for the flats, which can get expensive, but Wally World sells it for under $6 for the big bag, and I get all my flats from one.
Here's how I do it: cover the table with a couple layers of newspaper, cover that with a dark colored old sheet or a black plastic garbage bag. Set up your flats, using even a butter knife to mark 'rows' and plant the seed. Cover simply with the soil moved to make the rows.
I plant my seeds about 3/4 to 1 inch apart, in rows about 2 inches apart. In a standard discarded flat, I get five rows of 16 to 18 plants each.
Hang your shoplight so that it is about 2 - 3 inches above the soil and centered (I usually start four flats of various stuff) over the flats. Mist with water from an old spray bottle (make sure of what was in it!). Cover this 'tent-style' with the clear plastic, leaving the ends open for ventilation.
Turn on the light and visit daily to make sure the soil hasn't dried out, misting, but not watering is best till plants are well established. Other than this, just watch and wait. I have NEVER lost one seedling during this phase - and that's pretty good considering seed loss of 0% is all but unheard of even with professionals.
After the seedlings are up, keep the light about 3 - 6 inches above the tallest. Never let the soil out, but don't over water. If the water stays on the surface - STOP.
When there are TWO sets of true leaves, transplant into paper pots made from the rest of those old newspapers, or into plastic/styrofoam cups, dixie style cups, old milk cartons the kids bring home from school (they will complain - I did when Grams made me do it!) - whatever.
My light stays on 24/7 from the time I put seed in the flats until about 2 weeks before I'm going to plant out. Then, if I don't have a sunny window, the light is on about 10 hours a day. No, the electric doesn't skyrocket on me, either.
When you decide its time to start hardening off, try to pick a calm, sunny day for the first few hours outside. Make sure they are all protected from direct 'noon' sun, and from breezes and drafts for the first few days. After that, begin to put them in slightly more open spaces and leave them out longer each day. Within a week and a half to two weeks, they should be ready for the garden.
As for the garden itself, I put on as much fresh horse manure as I possibly can between the middle of October through about the end of January. I live in the burbs but have a friend with three horses, so I haul 2 55 gallon drums of the stuff home about twice a month when I see her. I toss about 2 bags of sand in, and sprinkle lime over top of that and just let it sit all winter. Then I hand-dig the dirt (for big ones, I'd say do it with a tiller!!). I don't fertilize with anything other than rabbit doo after that - I raise rabbits, so its free.
Now, in a spot that is mostly shaded, heavily clay, and on a slope to the west, I did pretty well last year. My garden is 30' x 25' these days. I had 3 different cukes, 2 different broccolis, corn, 4 kinds of tomatoes, beans, peas, cantaloupes, zucchini, spaghetti squash, 2 kinds of okra, watermellon, 3 types of sweet bell peppers, jalapenos, cayennes, carrots, beets and nasturtiums.
Flower beds and planters, pots etc. housed such things as garlic, onions, herbs, and other edible flowers.
On my quarter acre, I am STILL eating from last years' garden, even though I lost in total about 150 pounds of produce when the freezer blew. I have more than enough seed to plant for myself, have just sent out a donation to another lady here, and have some barter offers up elsewhere. When I see what happens with those (they were to individuals) I'd be happy to share with you, as well.
Email and I'll send a list to anyone that would like to barter or send a single stamp for a few seeds.
Good luck!
Sue