Does it say garden soil, or potting soil? As long as it does not dry out rock hard, it should be fine to use. Here is what I would do. I would make a container up using it. Soak it with some water, and then let it dry out. If it is not a cement block you should be good to go. If you are worried about it, you can always add some stuff like peat or perlite to lighten it up. I would leave your containers that you have already sown as is. You would be amazed at how strong some of the seedlings can be!

Leave them be and get more potting soil and sow, sow, sow, Lisa. If you need seeds email me.

Why can't she just dumped all the soil from her containers with seeds in a remote part of the garden and see what comes up? Might make a pretty wild flower bed! That's what I think when I see the wildflowers sown along the roadsides.

Well I know I have columbine that reseeded underneath some slates outside in the worst soil imaginable and then grew and bloomed yet!!! I would leave everything as is and just get potting mix next time you plan to sow things. I think those seeds ought to be able to grow in Miracle Grow soil!
Joann

Dont dump them or redo,, they will be fine, though its not a PREFERRED medium, regular soil still works, Im not there to look at it , Ive used el cheapo top soil when I was totally out of other stuff years ago and it worked ok.

I wouldnt sow with it for the most part, and I prefer promix to anything else, but keep them and see what happens.

Silverkelt

ghoghunter, the worst possible soil in the garden will be infinitely 'worser' in the confines of a container - you can't really compare the two for growing conditions :)

But Lisa, I don't think I'd do them over either. The problem with garden soil not potting soil is that you will have more compaction and slowed drainage, smaller root systems. It doesn't mean your seedlings will fail completely. Just go forward from here with a product formulated for container growing.

Next time put a big strip of duct tape on that bag and write on it. You don't want to be tempted by a $30 shrub to plant in a pot on your deck and use a sack of garden soil in the pot ;)

I didn't know Miracle Gro made anything that wasn't suitable for container gardening. I wouldn't dump it. Nobody buys soil in a bag to put on the garden so don't worry.

The worst potting soil I ever got was in a black bag from the Dollar Store - it's a brand name like Hyponex - it turned into concrete. I would just keep an eye on the seeds and maybe call Miracle Gro to verify it's not for containers. Dirt is, after all, just dirt.

I still haven't gotten my jugs drilled and filled. Who am I to be giving advice?

"Nobody buys soil in a bag to put on the garden... Dirt is, after all, just dirt..."

I think I'd have to disagree with both of those statements. People often buy bags of topsoil, garden soil, etc., to add to their garden.

Also, at least when it comes to winter sowing, for me, dirt is not just dirt. I find the potting mix used is one of the main factors in the success (or lack thereof) of my winter sowing.

Lisa, I'm a bit confused by your post. If you are just worried about whether the seeds will germinate, I think if it were me I would just leave the containers and see how they do.

If, as I think it might be, your concern is that you would like to re-use the containers, then perhaps you could, as someone suggested, dump those containers in the garden and then re-use them with suitable potting mix. But I don't think those 14 containers are "certainly goners".

If containers are your concern, you have some options. Ask co-workers, friends, neighbors, relatives to save some. Post on freecycle asking for some. Go out dressed in black on recycling night, lol.

But again, I wouldn't dump those containers just to re-use 14 containers. You might be pleasantly surprised, and you can find 14 new containers fairly easily.

Darn, if all else fails, eat a lot of cake (in big clear containers) and drink a lot of milk with it. We've got two more feet of snow coming tomorrow.... sounds like a fun (if fattening) way to pass the storm...

:)
Dee

Last year was my first year winter sowing.....I was a skeptic, so I went the cheap cheap way out and bought soil from dollar and hardware stores. It worked! Now I may have had a higher germination rate had I used potting mix or seed starting mix (which I am this year now that I am a believer, lol) So as others had said, don't dump those containers, you may get a nice surprise. What's that old saying, live and learn....

tazebell, so you know -

Miracle Grow In-Ground Product - Details and Usage (from their website). Bagged Garden Soil:
"When to Apply
Apply when planting flowers, vegetables and herbs outdoors (not in containers), or when preparing soil in outdoor gardens and landscape beds.

Where to Use
Use for in-ground gardens.

Where Not to Use
Not for use in pots or containers."

Lisa-They'll be fine! Just keep them from drying out and don't let them get too wet. Yes, I'm speaking from experience!!LOL!! I kept mine under the eaves next to the house so they were out of the rain and close to the hose. Planted out as soon as I could, the perennials were a little stunted the first year but by the second you couldn't tell. The annuals were fine.
When I planted them out I tried to leave as much as the "bad" dirt as I could.
-B