it is not required to soak seeds before planting if you make sure your dirt is pretty moist untill it sprouts, not DRIPPING wet but pretty moist. pros of soakin may be earlier sprouting but im not sure, because ive NEVER soaked ANY seed, everything still works out(some people insists seeds wont grow unless you do?). and a con would surely be handling the seed when you put it in dirt if the seed is already opening. id just do it natural man, but to each his own.