It was probably shipped bone-DRY to minimize the shipping costs.

Since it is primarily composed of peat moss, it is going to be hydrophobic UNTIL it absorbs a little water. Dry peat moss is hydrophic--meaning it acts like it doesn't want to have a thing to do with water!

All it needs is time to absorb the water. For dealing with dry mixes I often start out by spraying the surface (the tiny particles of water absorb a little better). Then I spray some water over it with the kitchen sprayer. Then I set that aside to soak and go do something else for about an hour.

When you check on it later, it might need more water (or not). Mix it with your hands to make sure it has thoroughly absorbed. As long as peat moss already has some absorbed water, it ceases to be hydrophobic and they get along together well.

Yes, that's a soilless mix, and should do quite well for seed-starting. :)

Check out this starter mix

http://pottingblocks.com/oldfarmboy.html

Here is a link that might be useful: old farmboy potting mix

You're probably not quite at the point where you want to invest $100 or more in a soil-block system. I use them, and they work, but for a garden of the size you're doing it would be about as economically efficient as buying a tractor.

ralleia is right, and you did get the right stuff. It's a bit of a pain to get it to the proper moisture level, but after that it will work fine for you.

Is this the type of mix that I can drown in a bowl of water and then wring it out with my hands?

Oh, no. Don't drown it in a bowl of water.

It'll turn into a soggy mess, and then you'd have to strain out the solids from the water, and then wait for it to get try enough to use. You certainly won't be able to catch the particles of peat and vermiculite with your hands!

Think of it like making dough. You add enough water to make it workable and cohesive. We don't drown the flour in a bowl of water and then hope to be able to make bread! :)

I just plant in it and pack the soil down well. Then I bottom water and in less an hour the soil absorbs so well that the top is damp.

I use Fertilome seed/potting mix. I get excellent results. I am not afraid to feed my plants some and I take them outdoors most days.

Hi Wayne, where do you obtain Fertilome? The main reason I'm trying 2 brands is because I did buy seedless watermelon seeds and want to get them off to a good start. Will be planting them this weekend indoors and will go with the Hoffman mix. I too place my trays outdoors, which has been just about every day lately. I use Shultz liquid fert @ 7 drops per quart for watering, also bottom water soak on occasion which really makes a difference.

I tried the store bought seed starter mixes this year. Totally worthless. As has already been said, they're peat based so they're incredibly hydrophobic when they dry out, and unless you're watering twice a day any small seed starter sized tray is going to dry out.

Just get a block of coir and call it a day, thats what I did. Self watering starter tray and a couple blocks of coir and you'll be set for years of germination.