My advice to you is skip the paper towels; germ directly into moist soil\less mix. Plant your seeds directly into potting mix, in 16 oz plastic cups (with drainage holes), for example or something at least ~4 inches tall. Use a quality potting mix for seed starting. Fill contains completely with potting mix, make an indentation or shallow hole in the center with your finger or a pen, about finger nail deep (half inch). Put the seed in the hole sideways, cover with mix; pat down lightly and water gently but thoroughly. For example, use a small water bottle and your thumb\finger to drizzle water onto the soil surface, you don't wanna splatter shit all over the place here.
Similar deal if you used paper towels and 'pregermed' the seed, in terms of moving to potting mix although you might need to make a hole that is a big deeper. You have to be gentle also, avoid damaging the tap-root.
The soil temperature should ideally be no cooler than 70-72*F. Something like a tube fluorescent (e.g. T5) is ideal, otherwise multiple CFLs or a heating mat, etc. Multi-tube T5 fixtures (lights on) really help warm the soil surface acceptably though.