Well germination is always the fun part for me!
I take enjoyment of sprouting seeds, giving them life to bear the fruit.
My technique is pretty common I drop my seeds in ph water to 6.0 and leave them in for about 18 hours or until the sink to the bottom or crack.
Once that is accomplished I put them in little pea pots or pellets and put the in the humidity dome! Darkness for the first day or so until I see a sprout and add light.
You can sprout with lights on with a t5 or any light I just feel it makes the process much easier this way!