Joe, I think the most common way to fail is to provide too little light.
Shop lights are fine. Use at least 2 of them. I use some old 4 tube
fixtures to give me 8 tubes total for a grow area of about 4 feet x 2
feet. You can use ordinary cool white fluorescent tubes and there is no
reason to use anything fancier than that on plants that will be going
out into the sun in a matter of weeks.
One thing that many people don't realize at first is that the plants
must be very close to the tubes to get the best light. An inch or 2 is
not too close. You will need a system to raise the lights as your plants
grow or start with the seedlings raised up on something and lower them
as they grow.
You will need a warm place to get the seeds going. Temperatures in the
80s to low 90s will get many seed growing in 3 days. Watch them
carefully and move them to the lights as soon as they sprout.
Figure out your normal last frost date and work back from there. Most
plants need about 6 weeks from seed. Tomatoes and peppers can go 8.
Cabbage and broccoli can take a little frost and can be planted out
before the heat lovers. By the time the plants start getting too big for
the lights, it is warm enough to move them outside during the day. Go
from mostly shade to full sun over a period of at least a week to get
them used to full sun. Leave them out on the warmer nights.
I think basement window wells might work great for cold frames. I don't
have that kind of basement windows so I can't try it. Don't seal them up
too tight if there is full sun. I imagine it could get too hot. You
could maybe open the window to let the basement air keep away the
temperature extremes.

Steve in the Adirondacks

Joe wrote:
I have tried to start plants from seeds in the past, but always failed. I
would like to have a setup in my basement for starting plants. I really
don't know how to go about it. What kind of lights do I need and where can I
buy them? What about a fluorescent shop light that hangs over a shelf where
the starter containers sit? Is there such a thing as growth florescent light
tubes for starting plants? I would also like to know when to start plants
from seed such as tomatoes, cabbage and broccoli etc... I can't find any
books on this for a beginner to use. Also, what about using basement window
wells for cold frames? Thank you all very much for your opinions.