Sowing the seeds is pretty simple, but there are a few tips and tricks to make it easier, including the following:

Sow at the correct depth. As a general rule, plant seeds twice the diameter of the seed, no deeper. However, this information can be found in the seed package. Some seeds just need to be pressed into the surface of the soil because they need more light to germinate. For seeds at double or triple depth, drill individual seed holes or make a furrow. You can use a pencil to poke holes if you want!

Pay attention to the distance between the seeds. Lettuce, radishes, carrots and other small seeds can be planted densely and then thinned to proper spacing when the seedlings are small. In general, plan to sow a few extra seeds as not all seeds may germinate.

If you are a beginner, plant in defined rows; do not scatter widely. It's easier to keep the weeds down between the rows and tell the seedlings from the weeds. (Weeds don't usually grow in rows!) Rows are often spaced about a foot apart, but check the seed packet for details.

Firm the soil after sowing the seeds. This ensures good contact between the seed and the soil.

Water the new seeds gently! Don't turn on the hose at full blast and blast them, or you'll wash those seeds away or cause them to clump together. Use a fine fine mist or let the water hose run slowly over the area to moisten the soil.

Prevent soil crusting. Weak seedlings (such as carrots) may have trouble breaking through the soil surface if a hard crust forms. After covering the seeds with soil, add a thin layer of fine mulch or compost to prevent crusting. When planting, you can also mix in fast-germinating seeds (e.g. radishes), which break through the crust and allow weaker seeds to grow.

"Hill" vines plants. When directly seeding large vine-ing plants such as squash, melon and cucumber, consider planting them on a hill. Each mound should be 4 to 8 feet apart. Plant 4 to 6 seeds in a circle at 5-inch intervals on each hill. Thin when seedlings have 2 or 3 leaves. Remove all but 2 to 3 large, healthy, well-spaced plants on the hill. More than 3 plants per hill will result in crowding, greater risk of disease and lower yields

Mark the spot where you planted a row of vegetables; it's very easy to forget, especially when you're trying to tell the difference between seedlings and weeds! Use a pop-sicle stick to mark the lines or whatever works for you!.