To hasten germination, prechill the seeds for 5 days. Place the seeds in a moistened piece of kitchen roll and place in the fridge for 5 days.
Sow seed on the surface of lightly firmed well drained seed compost in pots or trays. “Just cover” the seed with a light sprinkling of compost or vermiculite, do not exclude light as this helps germination Keep at a temperature of around 15 to 20°C (59 to 68°F). After sowing, keep the surface of the compost moist but not waterlogged; germination can take between 21 to 35 days.
When large enough to handle, transplant seedlings into 7.5cm (3in) pots or trays and grow on. Gradually acclimatize to outdoor conditions for 10 to 15 days before planting out after all risk of frost, 22 to 30cm (9 to 12in) apart.