I used damp, cause the lids are off the milk jugs, or large slits in the plastic tops for rain or snow to water the seeds.

Soak, then let the excess drip out while I'm picking out what seeds will go into the container and doing labels.

I'm keeping mine very dry and letting nature do the rest. My soil was pretty moist when it came from Foxes Farm. It is mostly worm castings so the moisture content is high.

I did put a little water on some of my WS containers, but I prefer to let the snow, rain and condensation keep it a bit damp for now.

I'm doing this because I don't want anything sprouting too soon, and I find that water is like "grow juice".

We had two snows in early March last year, so I am going to wait just a bit longer, before soaking my containers.

When I'm ready for babies, I'll be watering through the top holes with a turkey baster, because I think that will be the fastest way.

(I'm a newbie but I'm also a plan-a-holic!)

I usually bring in a 5 gallon bucket of potting soil (I think it's similar to pro-mix, same stuff my local greenhouse uses)and use the spray hose on my sink to wet it down, til it's damp. Then I spoon it into the container, which is sitting on my pampered chef cooling rack over the sink. I use the hose again to wet down the soil til it's dripping out the bottom. Doing it this way levels the soil so it evenly fills the container. I let it drip for a while, then put the seeds in. Then outside it goes. Can't see any of my pots now, all covered with snow.

I AM SO SICK OF WINTER!!!!

My first try at WSing. I had my soil fairly wet when I planted, but today it looked pretty dry. (been 10-14 days) We have not had any rain to speak of so I gave them a little drink. Is that what is recommended? There has not been enough precip. to keep the soil damp.
Thanks for everyone's help. I am sure I am making this much harder than it has to be. LOL

Soak and drain. Then, out it goes. I don't worry about watering until spring as my containers are frozen. I'm in Columbus, Ohio.

I soak it initially, then let drain a little and put outside.

Potting mix (Peat) can be very resistant to wetting. Best done by soaking in a bigger tub, stirring well to avoid dry pockets, then fill jugs with wet potting mix. Let drain, sow, put outside.

Like bakemom, I don't think about moisture again until spring.

Karen

I soak the soil after putting it in the containers and then drain well. Sow and seal up and outside they go!
Joann

I soak the soil in the jug really well, let it sit for about 10-15 minutes then sow. I didn't have to water jugs last year at all. So far this year I haven't had to water either.

Michelle

I watered the soil down fairly wet, then sowed, and placed outside. Yesterday the soil looked dry so I gave them a drink, ( around the edges of the jugs, so it didn't wash the seeds) today the soil still looked dry, so I stuck in a finger and it was very dry on top. I misted very heavily. There was no condensation on the jugs. The wind has been terrible and that might have factored in drying out the soil. No rain or snow at all. maybe I will get better as I go along on this project.
justsaymo

I fill,soak,drain,sow,seal,and out they go. :0)

Thanks for the replies. I used damp soil a month ago. I checked those, and they were dry even though I have had a Lot of snow and rain. It didn't go into the milkjugs. This time, I soaked the soil and put them out. I don't think I will have to give them water for quite awhile. So, I think "soak" is the answer.

I just ws'd everything yesterday, I gave the soil a good soak before putting them out. There is heavy condensation on the lids right now.

There may be rain in my forecast as early as tomorrow, should I cover them?

I've only just got my first few slits in the covers, not to many at all, but rain could definitely get in and make it muddy...

Usually I have soaked the soil well with one of those 1 1/2 quart pump sprayers. But last week, I purposely winter sowed some more containers when we were supposed to get yet another "precipitation event" that night. This time I only sprayed the top of the soil, didn't bother to soak the whole container.

I put the containers out before the snow-turning-to-rain started that night and it did the work of soaking the containers for me. Much easier!

I make 4 1/8 - 1/4" holes in the bottom of my milk jugs, fill about 3 1/2 - 4" deep with soil, pour about a quart of water in and let drain through. Then I lightly stir the top of the soil to make sure it is nicely damp, sow my seeds and cover as recommended, tape and set out.

For the 2 1/2 gallon self taps, I try to make sure the tap is open and put 6 holes in the bottom of the jug...2 in each little section, and similar holes in the top. follow the same steps as gallon jugs, and put out.

I'm doing the inside label out of blind slats, as well as permanent marker on top. The 3 section 2 1/2 gallon jugs get 3 labels inside and perm marker on each section.

I've run out of room in front of the house for putting out the containers, so I think I'll shovel the back deck off some and start placing containers out there. Again, next winter I hope to have much better organization as far all this goes!

I've spent waaaay too much on the potting soil this year, so this summer I plan to get a half dozen bales of promix. That will end up costing about 1/2 what I spent this year and go further!