I soak mine 24 hours in a Dixie cup or small bowls. I have a small squirt bottle with
peroxide and vinegar, 20% each, 60% water. Spritz, wait a few minutes, rinse and top
with at least twice the volume of water as they will swell at least twice their size.
I grow year round for salads so I do this once a week.
For the garden I use all the tricks I've read about. I soak them the same way, then
plant a dense row, water in, then cover with a long board actually a few. About 4-5
inches wide. I'll get about 60% from direct seeded. Fine in complete darkness for up to
a week. The board keeps a few pests out and in heavy storms they are protected from
soggy soils and wash-outs. About a third of those first soaked seeds I pot in soilless mix
in the barn and plant the next week along with another direct seeded row....re-peat.
Same with early Spring peas but those I direct seed once a week for 4-5 weeks.
When the boards comes off I cover with bird netting or row cover until established.
Once mine are up 6inches or so, nothing bothers them at all.
I buy 'big boy' packets, 8oz-lb, so I have plenty seed and many varieties.
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