Yes, it is often discussed over on the Growing from Seed forum here. I think there is even a FAQ there about how to do it. Often called the "baggie method". ;)

Dave

I use this method for my tomatoes and peppers. I have found the coffee filters are better at preventing the root from digging into the paper than the paper towels. Some just cut or tear the embedded towel and plant the paper along with the seed, but I always end up breaking the root, so the filters work better for me.
The filters are also easy to write on with a pencil for id. I don't have a lot of space so I stack the baggies on a shelf above my computer processor(on which is stacked our cable router and modem, adding heat)and most seeds sprout within a week to 10 days. Then I use tweezers or hemostats to transfer sprouts to their starting pots.

I like this method very much for tomatoes, peppers and melons, but have found it sometimes necessary to use two toothpicks (like chopsticks) in separating the fragile seedling roothairs during transplanting. The key has been finding the right solution of water-to-hydrogen peroxide to spray the coffee filter with that helps prevent fungal growth, but doesn't kill the seedling root hairs. I typically dilute 3% H2O2 with 10 parts water (so around 0.3%).

I have also had success with this method for seeds listed as needing scarification or liquid smoke, such as CA native sages and others.

I tried this method last year. It seems that I had a lot of fatalities during and after transplant. This year I'm starting in seed starting mix in an egg incubator at 83 degrees. It's working much better for me and I haven't had any stuck seed heads so far- no mold either!

Dave, thanks for the link. I have had good luck sowing annual/perennials outside using the wintersow method.

Noinwi - I used coffee filters from the outset but haven't had problems yet with clingy roots. The roots come off easily especially when the filter is moist. Agreed with the ease of marking.

Dicot - good to know you had success with other types of seeds as well. I will be giving tomatoes a try as well!! I spritzed the filters with chamomile tea solution and haven't had issues with mold.

Milehighgirl - :(

I pre sprout seeds in a similar way but without the coffee filter. I place them in a bowl and cover them with water. Then rinse once a day. When the seeds start to sprout I pour off the water and plant them. If you wait too long they become delicate and hard to handle.

?? I thought I posted to this thread but it ended up on the pepper thread! So I am posting my response here again:)

Zeuspaul

I think the problem with this method is to keep that paper moist. Papers tend to dry up fast witout soil. I prefer planting in soil and covering it with paper towel/tissue or newspaper untill the seeds germinate.

The paper is in a sealed plastic bag and can't dry out.

Jim

Thanks JIMSTER.
That will take care of the proble.
I will give it a try.

yes that should work. I stack the filters in a ziploc and
only have to spritz the top/bottom filter every 2-3 days.

zeuspaul funny the swimming pool cover is always full of sprouted maple keys every spring , they have been underwater since fall, I will be trying this method with some test seeds , and i read your reply on the hot pepper board too

I've used this method a lot for pretty much every veggie I've grown, excepting a few that just do so well in the ground that it just didn't even seem worthwhile to experiment with (beans, squash). So, broccoli, kale, lettuce, onions, tomatos, pepper, artichoke, cardoon, okra, well, you get the idea have all been started this way at least once. Mind you, I'm not saying it's the best method for all of these, just that I've done it successfully. It seems to work best if the little guys are plucked from the paper towel/filter as soon as they get their little root out... too much later and their root hairs do indeed seem to stick to the surface, causing much heartache.

Oh, and last year I tried a method of pre-sprouting my peas that is a lot like zeuspaul's method and it worked very well. I found the idea somewhere on these boards... :)

Sunni

Just curious, seeds have to have something to scrape the seed coat off the cotyledons when the roots grow downwards and the cotyledons upwards due to gravity. Seems that starting seeds in paper would result in mostly "helmet heads" where the cotyledons remain trapped in the seed coat. Do you remove the seed coat with tweezers or what. Or plant in soil as soon as the seed sprouts in hopes that the seed coat will come off in the soil?

Seeds are usually planted in starting/potting mix as soon as the root has sprouted. Sometimes I lose seedlings to the seed coat. I think it's because I have not planted deeply enough.

Very interesting Sunni. I am getting into growing vegetables (having grown tomatoes, peppers, eggplants in the past), so your feedback is appreciated. If I need to start anything inside, I'll probably try this method first. For some reason, I did not have any germination from eggplant seeds even after more than two weeks.
I did one set of seeds with paper towel and the roots did stick. Have not had that issue with coffee-filters, especially moist ones.
Californian, I have noticed when I could not get to transplanting the sprout in time, the seed-leaves separated from the seed heads within the filter. I also tend to bury the sprouts almost completely with just the seeds head showing, when I transplant them and the seed heads separate nicely. I just leave the seed coat alone. So you should plant as soon as the seed has sprouted. If you go to the post linked with the first post, in the 3 or 4 the response, the poster shows images of the process. The last image would give you a good idea of when you can transplant.

Greensingh: You're welcome! I don't grow eggplant (I have a bad reaction to them and sweet peppers)but I wonder if they are prone to taking a long time to germinate like hot peppers?

Californian: I'm not sure it is only the action of the seed going through the soil that removes the seed coat- many of the seeds I've sprouted have popped out of the coat without ever going through any soil. It looks more like the coat splits very wide as the cotyledons emerge. I have also had some seedlings die with "helemt head" that did come up through soil... I always figured they just didn't have the vigor to succeed. So I don't do anything to the seed coat- it just falls off on its own whichever way I start them.

Cheers!

Sunni

I am happy to report success with pretty much everything I tried.
The eggplant seeds I had problems with didn't germinate in seed starting mix either.
The replacement seeds I got from Baker's creek have started germinating on the third day.
Profusion zinnias germinated the next day. This will be my method of choice the next year :)

This method is basically a seed viability test, which is the purpose for which it served you, greensingh. ;-)

As a germination method, it isn't necessary for most things. I do use it to germinate notoriously things such as peppers.

Jim