"nowhere can I find any detailed instructions on how to germinate them." www.rarexoticseeds.com - "No pre-treatment is required. Cover the seeds with 1/4" of your soil mixture. Keep damp soil, not soaking wet. Keep pot in warm situation 20ðC/68ðF, 24ðC/75ðF. Germination can take several months." BackyardGardener - Seeds do not require pretreatment. Surface sow seeds and do not cover with growing medium. The medium should be moist, and we would recommend that you cover the seed container with a piece of glass or clear plastic. Temperature should be kept at approximately 70 degrees F. Seeds should receive diffused light. Once some of the seeds have germinated air should be admitted gradually to prevent damping off. B&T World Seeds - Sow seeds on the surface of a moist peaty seed sowing mix or compost. Use a translucent cover to allow light in and to keep the compost humid and warm (do not place in direct sunlight). Keep temperatures around 25ðC (77ðF). Seeds will usually germinate in 15-90 days, even under good conditions germination may be erratic.

I put some seeds in some Af. Violet soil in a little plastic cup. (the ones you get to take home dressing/sauce from the restaurants in). I watered a little. Then I put those cups inside a plastic baggie and folded the end shut and taped it, and set them on top of my coffee maker (Bunn). The front lifts up to pour the water in, but the back part of it is flat. It's always warm there. It's been a week now, and they've sprouted. Now hopefully they'll continue to grow, when I put them into a larger cup/pot. I got them to sprout, now I need some advice as what to do next, and when. TIA Leslie

Just a word of warning, apple trees do not reproduce true to seed. Today, apple trees are usually propagated by grafting. To germinate apple seeds: Collect apples as they ripen and remove the seeds. Sow seeds in the fall or Stratify the seed in the refrigerator by placing the seeds in a container of moist packing material, such as peat moss, vermiculite or sand. Most seeds are adequately stratified after three to four months at 35-40 F. Sow the seed 1/2 to 1 inch deep. Most apples need a cross-pollinator so you should plan on at least two trees. Standard trees can take seven to ten years to reach an age when they bear fruit. Click here to learn about getting more fruit by pruning your apple tree.

Indeed, I am getting off to a very late start with these seeds but I do have a good reason for it lol. I had originally started 30 plants using the wet paper towel method, no stratification. I've found that the stratification period isn't necessary if you do scarification before putting them in the towels. You just have to take a decent sized chunk off with nail clippers. Anyway, those 30 seeds grew into beautiful seedlings, I got them all planted out in the garden, then something (probably a bird) took nearly all of them in the first day and a half. Having clary sage is part of my dream garden and I refused to give up so I started over with the last of my seeds. Maybe I should go ahead and plant them in peat pots indoors, under the grow light. Just long enough to get them established and then plant them out. You are right about the heat. It's already reaching 100° here. mxk3 - Thank you so much for your instructions! That's exactly what I needed to know. I'm going to get started with planting them right away. I don't think I can wait for them to grow their first leaves. Their cotyledons are almost to the top of the container already.