It depends a lot on other variables. I prefer coffee filters for everything, but if I see a big rainstorm in the forecast and the soil temperature is right, I plant in the garden. Things like lettuce or radicchio go well in 72 or 288-trays.

For coffee filters, I put them all in a ziploc bag, in the basement, inside an ice chest with a fluorescent light inside, to have both light and warmth (an incandescent bulb is much too hot). Germination is near 100% with everything.

I never had much luck with peppers until I started using the baggie method on them. That technically is not soaking.

I've also got some wild wood roses in the fridge right now in paper towel and baggie.

Other than that, seeds just get planted. Indoors mostly for a head start because I've got a short growing season. I've had excellent germination rates. Nearly 100% except for the occasional batch of poor quality purchased seeds (won't buy from that company again).

I do use a heat mat with a thermostat and follow directions about how much to cover or not cover seeds.

Once, a seed packet for snow peas recommended nicking and soaking. I just planted them and they all came up.

Anyone have a take on regular green beans?

I've never had very good germination with green beans for some reason - roughly - 50-60%. Going back to the Bush Blue Lake variety next year because Greencrop was very bad this year. Because they are pretty hard, would they benefit from soaking?

Got some seeds testing right now. Had all 18 Simpson Elite sprout yesterday and today (3-4 days) and 16 of 18 Buttercrunch in 3-4 days as well in a heated tray with a plastic clear cover. None of the Copra onions, saved basil, or Ventura celery have sprouted yet.

Simpson Elite seed is now two years old, Buttercrunch almost a year old along with onion and celery. One less packet of seeds needed for me this year since the Simpson Elite is still viable after two years!

Never had much luck with peppers, then again, I never soaked them either. Small batch stuff (tomato, broc, cauliflower etc) I've been using those little peat pots, they seems to work well when you only need a limited number of plants (and you can label varieties). And they almost always end up on the Lowe's clearance rack right before they set up the fall seasonal stuff. Greens, peas, beans, corn, it just stick in the ground.
Bsntech: I've found that green beans need the soil to warm up a bit more than I think it should have to...... if that makes any sense at all. It seems that in years I don't get to planting early, I have good germination. Years I push it and the beans sit in cool, wet ground, not so great germ. Also, I've had 'second planting' rows almost catch up to the earlier-sown rows. In my garden, I've found that I should be eating plenty of spring greens before I should get to stickin the beans in.

I learned early in my Maine gardening "career" not to plant beans too early. They do not like cold soil. An older gardener in my town told me she never planted beans before June 16. Then I found Provider which was supposed to more tolerant of cold soil. I planted that for a few years, but I had some good and some bad results. I also had a lot of damage from a still unknown pest and many plants didn't even get their first set of true leaves. The past two years I have started all my beans indoors and transplanted them and have had great success. Now the only trouble I have is that my bush beans are so prolific that they fall over and I need to devise a way to support them!

Martharc: Looks like you got a solution to your bean seedling theft. Just a thought as to the "unknown pest", I've found that the ingenious crows that frequent my yard have figured out that the beans are tastier after they have germinated. They will leave the rows go for a while, then come by and pull them out once they can see them. Figure, why bother diggin around for them if they just pop up and may themselves noticed in a few days. I now use row covers till the plants are a few inches tall and presumably out of harm's way.

I think for next year I may see about starting them inside. Going to be A LOT of transplants, but this may help with germination as well. Plan to also soak overnight to see how that works.

Bean seed I usually put out throughout the year so I know the soil was warm enough for germination - but still didn't have any difference in germination.

It's so much fun planting and watching things grow. One of my hobbies i must admit..

First you have to ensure that where you plant them achieves the right amount of sun light for that particular " veg" plant, some love afternoon sun, some morning for instance... South and North facing.

Sure, anything that naturally sprouts as it is getting old, is great to place in a small dish with cotton wool and keep water soaked, then plant.

But seeds in general, work just fine straight into the dirt with water and cover over, keep watering for a week daily and it will do the same thing.

Here is a link that might be useful: cartier love

I do it for some vegetables, usually the larger seeds, but it's absolutely essential to soak some of our native CA seeds to get decent germination rates. I never can be bothered to scarify or treat with liquid smoke our fire adapted natives, like sages and lupines, but soaking the hard seeds in 3% peroxide for 10 minutes then soaking in warm water overnight seems to work fine for me. It does require some gentle care to plant, as the seeds can be fragile once the seed coat is saturated.