I have tried several ways to germinate seeds before I plant outside. This is the easies method I have come up with and I get almost a 100% germination reward on even so-called hard to germinate seeds.

Here is the simple, secret device you will need to purchase for my method of germinating seeds.
CAKE PAN AND COVER!!

This works out so great. I go to our local .99 cent store and get the plastic cake tray and cover.
I fill the swallow bottom with a good quality seed starting potting soil. This soil is usually very fine so that it is easy on the seed to put down it's tiny new roots into.

You can also use the aluminum cake pans that are made to bake a cake in the have the dome shape cover the cake with.

Again I use a good quality seed starting potting soil and fill the pan or tray just about to the top. I DO NOT punch any holes in the bottom of the pan or tray because you will not be using a large amount of water, so holes are not needed for drainage.
Lay your seeds on top of the soil, leaving some space around each. Then come and lightly cover the seeds with a small amount of soil.
Next, I use a misting bottle with either distilled water, rain water, or tap water that has been left out overnight, to wet the soil down. Using a misting bottle will generally not disturb the seeds, but if one becomes uncover, just add a little more soil over it. Be sure to wet the soil down very well so it so down into it, but do not soak it.
Now you can place the cover of the cake tray or pan over it and make a label that tells what seeds are in and it is a good thing to put the date on it too.
I have put a table in front of a window that gets the full morning sun and that is where i place the tray of seeds. Before the day is over you will see humidity form on the plastic lids. I then just leave them along for a lest a week before I take a peek at what’s going on. Very rarely do I have to mist again, but sometimes the soil does get dried out and I give it just a little light mist of water.

Depending on what seeds you have planted, they will soon put out roots and little shoots. When the shoots get to be about an inch tall a take the lids off, but still leave them in the tray or pan for another week and mist them daily.
Next it is time to either plant them in their on pots or depending on the weather move them to the outside ground.

Good luck with all your seeds and remember
"Life is About Growing"