what?! you can germinate right in the soil no problem.. it's not always the best way.. but shit, that's what happens in the wild right? the seeds just hit the dirt.. seeds can take anywhere from 2-7 days to germinate..

read up on some different germination methods if you don't succeed with this. personally, i soak the seeds for 24 hours in water that's been sitting over night (to evaporate cholrine) then they go straight in the soil

what you did wasn't wrong...you just gotta try different things