HOW TO PLANT:

The preparation of seeds is the most important part of the planting process. The result depends on how you have prepared the seeds.

Plant the seeds in March or April, but first remove their orange, hairy tufts -- called arils, and refrigerate the seeds at 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit for two weeks inside a plastic bag with one handful of a damp seed-starting mix.

After removing seeds with hard shells from the refrigerator, immerse them for 24 to 48 hours in lukewarm water, softening them. Then scratch the side of each seed with a file or the tip of a utility knife until you break through the black shell, or coat, to reveal a lighter color.