Germination is easy...Take a paper towel, or even better, a soft cloth, wet it, ring it out so that its still wet, but not dripping. Place the seeds in the center. Fold it in half, and in half again if neccessary. Place the cloth in a ZIPLOC baggy. Press it down before you close it to make sure theres no air in it. Check on it after 2-3 days. Put the seeds in the soil. Root up or root down, it doesnt matter. Trying to reduce the male/female probability is silly. Its a 50/50 chance no matter what you do. If you get a male, youll just have to replant...Good Luck bro..