Quote Originally Posted by Rusty Trichome
Seriously? If so, please tell me you don't pay for seeds.
For the past few years, I've been planting the ones that sink and/or crack. After they sink, I put 'em in the damp paper towel, and discard the floaters.

Stinky: Do you know the mechanism that makes the viable seed absorb the water and sink, but keeps the inviable ones afloat? Been wondering about that for a while, lol.
I don't know what to say--this works for me. Sometimes I'll have a seed sink initially and next morning it's floating. But to be honest I've rarely gotten bad seeds anyway. If I throw 40 in a cup of water I'd be surprised to see more than 2 sink, assuming seeds are from a reputable source.

All I know for certain is 12 hours in water, 24 to 48 hrs in paper towels and they're popped. Don't do seeds often but next time I do I'll put the sinkers in paper towels to see if they sprout.