For those attempting to grow from seed, I can confirm that the damp paper towel method works at least as well as planting stratified seeds in soil, at least for N antarctica and N. obliqua (both standard and “mirb” variant).
I scarified all for 24-48 hours in water, adding any seeds that sank to ziplocks containing a mix of damp perlite/hermit crab sand/sphagnum moss and then stratified in those bags for about 2 and a half months in a fridge. Then divided the seeds, half put on damp paper towel in ziplock and half planted in mix of perlite and miracle gro seedling starter soil, ’mulched’ with damp perlite on top. Both the soil tray and paper towel bags were placed on a warm light table (temp range ~18-26° C, 16 hrs per day light) Germination observed in about 10-14 days)
Image is of N antarctica seeds on paper towel.
