I just bought a pair of 48" fluorescent shop lights to help get some things going. Other than one ill-advised college experiment this will be my first time using lights to help start my seeds. The lights will be on a timer set at 18 hours a day to boost the plants beyond just sunlight. I did a fair amount of research on what bulbs to use and ended up not using all grow lights because they are expensive and don't last as long as the others. Most of what I read came down to intensity of light being more important than wavelengths and spectrums, but I still wanted to have as wide a spectrum as possible within my budget. I ended up with 1 grow light, 1 cool white, 1 daylight and 1 soft white bulb. Indecision or genius? Time will tell. Anyone else use lights to give your garden a head start?
Also... I use an electric blanket, folded up flat, inside a trash bag under the plants for warmth. One observation I've made in my limited experience starting seeds indoors is that warm roots seem to matter even more than bright lights, at least in the beginning. I think my dog is jealous that the seeds are getting pampered more than she does.