Seeds ripen in summer to fall depending on the species.

Clothiers (suggestions normally for dried seed)
Cotoneaster apiculatus (Cranberry cotoneaster) - and most others: scarify, sow 3m @ 39ºF, move to 70ºF for germ.
Cotoneaster dammeri , Bearberry cotoneaster , sow 3m @ 39ºF, then 3m @ 70ºF, recycle (repeat cold moist, warm moist conditioning) for some germination in each of 5 periods

Druse (suggestions most often for fresh seed): Clean of pulp, either acid-etch with sulfuric acid, or stratify by moist-warm 120-170 days, followed by moist-cold 90 days, then sow in light @70F for germination in additional 120 - 270 days. Or sow outdoors when ripe, protect from rodents and birds.

So much for instant results - ha!
Thanks for your information - I'll have to give it a shot anyways. (proof of self). Always willing to try new things in gardening.

Winter sow them in the fall. Have you checked out that forum?

I have started them 2 times in the past. They absolutely NEED scarifying. Being a chemist I acid scarified them, but nicking should do. Then wintersowing seems to work well .

George

The info on every site I go to is always incomplete.
The harvesting of the seeds is seldom ever mentioned.

Do I harvest the seeds in the fall and then stratify them?
Can I harvest them the next spring and assume they're already stratified?
Must I stratify first and then scarify the next spring or can I scarify them and then put them in the fridge to stratify?
When I separated the seeds from the pulp I noted that about half of the seeds sank and half floated. Are they all good seeds or is one group or the other useless?
I am trying an experiment to find the answers to these questions, but with a 3-9 month germination time it is going to be a real problem as I'm doing it on a table in my living room window.

If anyone already has the answers to these questions I would appreciate your letting me know.

Thanks