I wouldn't use compost. too wet. Use good potting mix. Cheap isn't always best.

Karen

Sounds great to me. However, I'd be a bit worried using compost, not knowing whether there are fungi or other organisms that might effect germination or development of new sprouts. I like the "sterile" nature of the store-bought potting mixes.

Martha

I don't think anything sown outdoors needs to be sterile, but the compost will be the wrong texture in a container. It will be too dense, not enough aeration for seedlings roots to thrive. You really will be happier with something formulated for containers - save your compost for your garden where its invaluable (they don't call it black gold for nothing), not used inappropriately in your pots.

All the comments above are true and I agree with them. But I will say that before I knew better I used just plain garden soil that I dug up and I have mainly clay soil and I did mix some compost with it and I still had success with winter sowing. Now that I look back on it I wonder how I had any succes at all. But following the methods of better aeration will produce more and better results , I totally agree with that.