Mark a row with two stakes and draw a furrow between them with a stick. Follow the instructions on seed packets regarding planting time, spacing, and depth.
For vegetables and flowers with small seeds, dribble the seeds sparingly between your fingers or shake them from a corner of the packet. (Thin the seedlings when they have three or four leaves.)
Space larger seeds, such as corn, beans, or peas, farther apart to eliminate the need for thinning. Cover seeds to the recommended depth-most seeds should be covered with a layer of soil that is roughly as thick as the seed itself. Tamp the earth down lightly and water well if the soil is dry.