Scarification

• 1). Place the seeds in a glass jar and cover them with vinegar. Stir the seeds gently and allow them to soak for 10 minutes to several hours, depending on the species and the hardness of the seed coat. Drain the vinegar and rinse the seeds. The seed coat should feel soft to the touch.
  
  
• 2). Rub the seed coat with a file or sandpaper until the seed coat becomes thin. You can also make a small cut in the seed coat with a knife, but take care not to cut or damage the embryo inside.
  
  
• 3). Boil water and remove the water from the heat. Soak the seeds in the boiling water until the water cools.
  
  
• 4). Store the seeds in a moist, non-sterile medium in a warm location. Over the course of several months, microbes in the growing medium will break through the seed coat.
  
  
• 5). Plant seeds immediately after scarification treatment.
  
  

Stratification

• 1). Mix seeds with an even volume of moist sand or peat.
  
  
• 2). Seal the mixture in a plastic container and store it in the refrigerator. Temperatures should range between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The length of time to store seeds for stratification depends on the species, but 10 to 12 weeks should produce results for most seeds requiring stratification.
  
  
• 3). Check the container periodically and add water if necessary to keep the medium moist.
  
  
• 4). Plant the seeds immediately after stratification.