I am a bit scatterbrained I do not cover my seed to keep the light out, I would forget to take it off and just get leggy things. Depends on the seeds, perhaps a covering of plastic. I would have the compost damp but do not water much for a little while, should have enough in the compost to get going.
Had a bag of Westlands Organic last year and that went green and nothing much grew in it. Went back to my favourite Murphys but unfortunately could not get it this year.