Putting your seeds dry in the refrigerator didn't count towards conditioning them...they need the chill and the chill must be moist, dry is only storage.

There is no need to nick. Sowing in Fall when seeds are immediately ripe is best - seed pots left outdoors exposed to fluctuating late Fall and Winter temps will often germinate the first Spring. If you haven't had them in time to sow right after harvest, pour hot water over seeds and leave them 24-48 hours. Then provide a moist chill of approx 40F, 2 - 4 months. You can accomplish that by putting the seeds in a bit of moist sterile vermiculite or moist sterile sand and placing them in a dated zip lock bag in the refrigerator.