Dear Diane, I started my Arisemia sikokianum after allowing the plant to fully ripen outdoors very late in the season. I protected the seeds from the squirels by placing a stocking over the entire seed pod.I know this would not stop them but at least it discouraged them to the point that they had not yet decided to eat them. After harvesting it was so close to the holidays I placed the seeds pod and all in the refridgerator for almost three weeks. I am sure that is not long enough to do much but planted the seeds on Dec. 28th. Put some of the seed outside in the cold just in case and the rest under lights in the basement. Happy to say they are all popping up as we speak ( ones under lights). The first to emerge were on this weekend and they are still coming up.I will now plant the rest of the seed. Hope this helps Janet zone 6 -20 mi w of NYC