Sierra Juniper seeds

I have a long history of failure with Sierra Juniper seeds.

I first tried to throw some seeds in pots, stratify outdoors, and wait.  Nothing.  Nothing.  I had been planning to wait another year, after hearing that repeated stratification can help, but finally decided I couldn't take those seeds along during my recent move.

I then tried to stratify for about 8 weeks after subjecting to various treatments: scarification, boiling water, acid, etc.  Nothing.  So I put those seeds back in the refrigerator (using the baggie method) and I'll try again this year.

Finally, though, I found what must be the ultimate authority on germination of Juniper seeds, in Forest Science.  These guys studied germination of western and Utah juniper for a solid TEN YEARS.  They tell me that I just need to stratify longer; also they recommended a blender for harvesting juniper seed.  The harvesting went famously.  As for the stratification, we'll see.  I put 192 seeds in the refrigerator yesterday, for a projected 14 weeks.

Their best conditions, though, were--get this--14 weeks in water at 5C, with constantly bubbling compressed air.  I tried to convince my wife that it would be fine.  I was going to get a little fish-tank air pump, snake the tube into our refrigerator, and go for it.  I was ready, but she couldn't be convinced.  Perhaps I'll be revisiting the issue in 22 weeks or so.  I am determined to grow these plants from seed.