Some seeds can be planted as they are in a quality seed-raising mix or you could make your own consisting of 1/3 compost, 1/3 river sand and a 1/3 vermiculite. Planted 2-3 in each cell they can also be plucked to the strongest one as they grow.

Other seeds though may require some more effort than just placing in the propagating mix. Sweetpeas require soaking overnight before planting out in location and many of the Australian natives require smoking or heat application to begin germinating. If you're not having much success with your seeds try another way to get them to open up. Sometimes it may just be trying to imitate nature that will provide the success you're after.