laagarden, this will be my first real attempt at W/S, so I am sure someone can add some better informed info, but from what I understand from wintersown.org, is that:
1. after watering your soil, it should be like brownies.So yes, you wet it thoroughly and let it drain some before planting.

2. I doubt you will worry about soil drying out much untillate winter/early spring. But you better wait for better answers on this one.

3. Seedlings dont get planted out until after their first true leaves, and not before last frost.

4. I have seen posts where many direct sow right on top of the snow. I havent tried it tho.
Tammy

Laagarden,

1. The dirt will hold some moisture. As Tammy said, it should be like brownies.

2. You don't need to worry too much right now about watering. The moisture will likely freeze overnight. During the day, you'll probably see some condensation inside the containers. If the soil is frozen, you might not, but I didn't have to water last year until late March.

3. The ideal time to plant out is when the seedlings have their second set of leaves which is the first set of true leaves. If that makes sense. Of course, you don't want to plant out if you have snow on the ground or the garden soil is still frozen.

4. Poppies and larkspur can be sown on top of the snow. As it melts, they'll drop down to the soil. Larger seeds may be eaten by birds. Be sure to only sow hardy annuals or perennials. Tender annuals like salvias should be sown once the chance of frost is nearly passed.

I wet my mix before sowing though because I sow in large amounts I use a big plastic tub to stir the water and soiless mix, then fill my containers. I also mist my seeds and mix after sowing as think it helps with seed contact with mix. I like my containers nice and wet as find they don't dry out in the spring as readily.

The mix will freeze so you don't have to check it until closer to spring once it is thawed and starts to dry out. If there is lots of rain in the spring the containers will need little watering. If it is dry they will need to be checked more often.

In my zone I have not had to worry about planting in frozen ground as the seeds have not germinated until the weather has been warm enough for the ground to thaw. I wouldn't try to plant seedlings in frozen ground. Some seedlings will survive a light frost and can be planted out before the last frost.

I have sown poppy seeds over a late light snowfall so seeds can be watered/melted into the soil. Imagine the same technique could work for other small seeds as well.

laagarden: If you potting mix is nice and moist when sown, they should stay frozen in your zone through most if not all of the winter. Rain and snow and ice will water them well, just make sure there are plenty of holes for good drainage.

You might have to water in spring. As things melt, pay attention to the weight of the jug. You will learn by the weight whether they need watering.

Karen

laagarden, ditto to everything above.

One thing I wanted to point out is something a lot of newbies seem, IMO, to misunderstand.

Even though you are sowing in winter, it's not like you will have seedlings in January or February, while your ground is frozen. The seeds will germinate when it is warm enough for them to do so. It will be warmer inside the containers compared to the outside temps, but for the most part when the seedlings are ready to be planted out, the ground (and the snow) is thawed. So most likely you won't see seedlings while you have frozen-solid ground.

You might have to worry about some light frosts if you plant out early, but the ground should be fine for planting.

Have fun and good luck! You're off to a great start!
:)
Dee