Start the seeds indoors at least 6 months before warm spring weather, as you will need to allocate 6 to 8 weeks just for the refrigeration process.
Press the seeds 1/8 inch (3 mm) deep into pots filled with a moist, peat-based seed-starting mix. Cover them lightly, as they require darkness to sprout.
Sprouts will emerge erratically, usually taking 4 to 8 weeks after being removed from the cold.
Once the seedlings develop two sets of true leaves, gently transplant them into larger, individual pots.
Keep the young plants in a shaded, cool outdoor nursery area for their first summer. They cannot tolerate hot sun or dry soil.
