I did some searching around and found no information on seeds that could NOT be germinated this way. However, the method (warm or cold-stratification, scarification) varies according to the seed/plant.

Susan

I only start fairly large seeds this way. It seems to be useful for seeds that have a tough external coat, those that you might soak before planting. It is just a pain in the neck for tiny seeds. Who wants to pick off and plant 100 specks of dust without damaging the tiny radicle? You'll kill some of them transplanting so you still won't have 100% of your cells filled.

I am trying this with sweet pea seeds. They are certainly big enough, but my question is: after they germinate, how do you plant them without damaging the new "sprouts"? Do I plant them just as if they were unsprouted seeds? Or do I just press them in the seed starter so that the new sprout is exposed, or bury it completely?

From all of the posts I've read about it, you plant them the same depth as you would unsprouted seeds.

Ive been looking at this method and also Byron's tea method which is very similar. I got the impression that germination is greater. Do seeds also germinate quicker? If so, how much quicker do they germinate? I got Tepin & Chiltepin seeds this year which i heard are extremly hard to germinate. Maybe i should use this method exclusively for those types.

I do this with peas on occasion and they germinate in about 2 days. Once planted out, they grow normally. In the ground, which is much colder, unsprouted seeds take up to 2 weeks to germinate, depending on the weather...sometimes longer with a freeze.

For me, the paper towel method has meant a lot faster germination of many seeds, and some seeds where I was getting very low germination, like some daturas, germinated great guns. It's especially good for seeds that like warmth to germinate (if you lay the baggie on a heating pad), I've found, so I bet your species peppers will do great with it. I also use a weak solution of liquid kelp to wet the paper towel, because kelp has stuff in it that helps break down germination inhibitors. The only seeds I have not been able to germinate in paper towels were dead - they started rotting instead of germinating.

To plant them once they sprout, lift them up by the seed shell and poke a hole for the root in whatever you are planting them in. Then just stuff the root in and tuck it in, leaving the seed shell end above ground. Avoid touching the root with your fingers. I have heard that for tiny seeds you can just tear the paper towel into little bits and press it into the soil. I am going to try that this year with some tiny seeds I planted.