Please tell us what kind the seeds are. If I have them, I will send replacements.

Euglia, I used some really dense stuff in some containers my first year. I could definitely see that the seedlings did not grow fast in the dense soil, (I had monarda in dense soil, and monarda in fluffy "soil") but I did not see any increase in non-sprouters. So, just try to get them into uncompacted soil sooner rather than later.

My first year I did the same thing, and found out if I never let the soil dry out the seeds didn't have any problems germinating. Only in the containers that dried out did I see little or no germination. Plus I also learned over the next 2 years not to cover the seeds with soil, but make sure I slightly tamp the seeds into the soil surface then as the soil froze and thawed the seeds naturally were covered and I have better germination rates now.

Karenb,
thanks for the tip. My first year w.sing and I have lightly covered all seeds with soil. Next year will just gently tamp into soil.

Well seeds grow in regular garden soil all the time so I think that even though it makes it a little harder to keep the containers moist I wouldn't give up hope! Just make sure to keep the containers well watered and hope for the best. Do use a potting mix though for any new containers you sow!
Joann

If you think it's a huge problem, you might consider taking the top layer (which contains the seeds) off (set that aside), putting better mix back in your container, and then mixing some into your top-layer.
Then take about 1/2 of that top-layer mix now, and spread it over the top of 2 or 3 new containers of soil (so your seeds aren't buried too deep with the addition of more mix to that layer)
Make sense?

Seedmamma-

Thank you so much for offering, I think for now I will just try to work with what I have done.

The seeds were mostly delphinium, poppies, and lupine.
I had some passion flower vine seeds as well, I'm still not sure if these are good for WSing?

I don't know what to tell you. My motherinlaw...who can get silk plants to grow lol...wintersowed with garden soil from her garden. Yes...I'm talking about "wild dirt." rofl

It's working. (shrug) I wouldn't do it because my thumb isn't as green as hers...but I wouldn't sweat it. See what happens and if you want, do some more pots with potting soil as a comparison. Consider it an experiment. lol
Good luck!

I have some lettuce seed in garden soil that are sprouting!

I have other seeds in garden soil that have not sprouted..yet, but maybe they will sprout!
I wouldn't give up if I were you.

Maybe it will help if you get a skinny stick and poke through the bottom holes upward to aerate the soil?