HOT TIP: seed planting depth

In the spirit of keeping things simple I would like to first say, don't over think how deep you plant your seeds.  A general rule of thumb is to plant seeds to a depth that is twice their diameter. For many tiny seeds like carrots and tomatoes that means you are going to barely cover them with soil.  Larger seeds like beans and squash may go as deep as an inch.  Measure one of your fingers from the tip to your first joint crease and then from the tip to your second joint crease.  That way if you want to be exact to the specifications on your seed packet you will always have a reliable measuring guide with you.  Remember that deeper is not better, you don't want these little guys having to work too hard to push to the surface.  Seeds initially feed themselves with everything they need, if they don't get to the surface within a few days they will peter out and die.  So err on the side of shallow planting.