As a thrifty and nifty gardener, I've been starting specially selected seeds in house. Lucky me as I had a package of peat pots that I ran under warm water to expand, and then viola...I was ready to get things sprouting. A few seeds were directly sewn into the soil outside a couple of months ago, as I was dreaming and anticipating the make-over. Also, I made a few cuttings from a plant from the front of my yard, and put together a make-shift greenhouse for them, after doing a bit of research online.
It is of utmost importance to keep newly seeded soil damp, until your seeds sprout.