First Grow 11/14/23 diary starts

If taproot is shrivelled.......no hope. Misting is ineffective, you need to water deeply. Keep moist but not wet.

If you dug that seed up to find it had cracked but the tap root didn't emerge out of the shell....it's dead. I had to download your pic so i could zoom it in to see but the picture pixilates when you zoom so i couldn't tell. I only started using the paper towel method in the last 2 years. Prior to that i just soaked them for 24 hours in water and then planted them. I like the paper towel method but man you gotta make sure it stays moist or everything dies. I lost 2 Runtz seeds this summer because the damn paper towel dried out accidentally. Fortunately i have 3 runtz seeds left. Perhaps next fall.

Sounds like it honestly dampened off from too moist or too compact. I found doing a cup of water for 24 to 48 hours then directly in substrate, jiffy, or rockwool. Dome till sprout looses husk. This Is much easier ,and less stressful for starting seeds vs napkin method.