Refrigerator is fine for most things, rarely are actual freezing temps required. The chill needs to be moist; I don't use the baggie method myself but you could, or you could put the seeds with a bit (like tsp) of moist sterile sand or vermiculite in a small zip lock (and then sow the entire contents, sand and all when ready to sow)

How long depends on which seeds....names please?

How long depends on the species. Two weeks is enough for some, others may need three months. Consult a germination database, search for other published advice, or ask here if you can't find instructions. Some species have complex dormancies that need various combinations of warm and cold stratification.

I sow seeds that need to be stratified, then put the whole pot or tray in the fridge or sometimes outdoors at the right time of year. This works well for one or two trays at a time but you'd need a separate fridge for lots of trays. Some people don't like the idea of soil in the fridge, even inside a plastic bag, so a small bag of moist sand may be more acceptable.

Shrubs n bulbs, I assume these same people don't like dirt under their fingernails, either! :)

Its not that I dont like to get dirt under my finger nails, I dont have the luxury of living in z10, Im wanting to start seedlings earlier for an extended growing season.

It's a space thing here, my refrigertor isn't that big. Although I can't say it's never had pots of dirt in it (just not with additional holiday food), and I can also admit to containers of worms and live shrimp (bait) :)

Depending on the seasons, I can put many seed pots outdoors at an average temperature that is just about equal to my refrigerator...

but you still didn't tell us what kinds of seeds you wanted to sow.

i am trying gerber daisy, delphinium, mexican sunflower, and mostly unnammed ornamental grasses.

OK, 'ornamental grasses' covers a lot of territory, not sure I can help without specific types.

Gerbera - Sow 70 - 75F, light, germination 7 - 14 days. Clothiers suggests sticking the seed vertically into the sowing medium to allow for some light while keeping one end moist.

Tithonia (Mex sunflower) Barely cover, light beneficial.
70F, germination 7 - 15 days approximately

Delphs are a little different....Seed has short viability and is best sown fresh. While stratifying isn't required, a period of moist chill can help. (Delphinium exaltatum, and zalil, and I find cashmerianum do germinate better with a chill first) And many germinate best at lower temperatures than most seeds, anywhere from 40 - 55. I find that 55F temperature hard to find...warmer than my refer and outdoors, cooler than any room in my house.

gjmancini, I'm so sorry if you thought my comment had something to say about your original post! I was trying to be funny in reference to Shrubs n Bulbs post about people not liking to have soil in the refridgerator! I was trying to say you gotta love it all...dirt under the nails, dirt in the refridgerator, etc. I FIND reasons to play in the dirt! :)

Gjmancini, I just germinated some Mexican sunflower without stratification...just popped them into a cup of moist vermiculite and 2 or 3 days later, they arrived!

Also, the way I stratify is in a baggie with moist not wet vermiculite (my absolute favorite seed starting medium!) and toss in the fridge until I have room for them (ie. some pots free up when something moves into the ground). No other rhyme or reason really.

Zone 10 is great but you only add to your garden, you rarely lose, and eventually you run out of room! :)

Some of our native seeds will not germinate well at constant temperatures and if your flats are put out protected with screens or 1/4 inch hardware cloth coverings and allowed to experience the rain and fluctuating night & day temperatures germination rates will be much higher. Al

What about winter sowing? Have you checked out that forum?

I thought a thread without a winter sowing advertisement was too good to last ;)