Unanswered newb questions

hi, sorry to ask such silly rookie questions, but this will be my first time growing and i have spent hours reading up and searching, but still have a few unanswered questions.

i will be growing a small personal stash of plants, five or less. most guides cover mass growth with more professional equipment.
i would really appriciate it if someone could recommend what kind of lighting fixture i should buy for such few plants that i could buy at somewhere like home depot.
also, what kind seeds do you suggest for a first time grower?
and finally, what are the chances of not getting a female plant at all? im still pretty confused about this aspect. how far into the growing process before you know whether your plant is a female or male, and is it unusual that out of about 10 seeds you don't get any females at all?

any answers are greatly appriciated.

I would get some cfl's to start the plant off. they can bve purchased at home depot and some shop lights. You will need the right bulb a sot white should work fine aqt the beginning. I can't answer about the seeds as I buy clones for my grows.

400watt hps for 5 plants. 50/50 male female ratio, you would hope for better but can be worse.

1. Seeds. Get good seeds and get feminized. Attitudeseeds.com. Use voucher code 420 for a 10% discount. You're welcome!

2. Go to amazon.com. Order 6 of these at a steal price
http://www.amazon.com/Earthmate-EP4052AE-40-Watt-Spiral-6-Pack/dp/B001WAL1P0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1249501396&sr=8-3

then order 6 of these, still the best price and note that both are free shipping
http://www.amazon.com/Feit-Electric-ESL40TN-Fluorescent-High-Wattage/dp/B001AZOV9K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1250117577&sr=8-1

3. Go to Lowe's and get three large clamp reflectors, 3 extenders (the things that screw in and have another socket on the end and 2 outlets on the side), and 3 Y adapters to take 2 bulbs.

4. decide on whether you will grow in soil or water then start learning and planning while waiting for your seeds to come. Read relevant stickys and main threads on this site. I rec starting with a simple dwc hydro setup.

400w would be great on 5 plants, pay the extra and get fem seed, all indica or sat.

So start with cfl's for 2/3weeks, 5 would be good i think with home made reflectors. Then get the badboy 400w hps over them, dual spectrum bulb so the is no need to change for flowering.

Use a good quality soil, shit soil=shit grow.
Grow box/area.
5 pendant light fixtures
5 cfl bulbs, 25w 6400k if poss
5 plant pots, 10inch dia, 12inch deep
Timer
Thermometer
Nutes
SEEDS!!!

That should see you for the first 2/3 weeks, only use nutes after 3 weeks at 1/4 strengh to start with.

You got there first IS, I'm a slow typer.

thanks so much for all of your help, i really appriciate this!