Just curious. I’ve tryed the paper towel method ...

I like paper towel method, but I transplant when I see first sign of taproot coming out. I transplant in moist soil and don't compress it, just gently cover seed(s), no watering until cotyledons peek out.

The process from seed to sapling is way faster like this, but you can do so much stuff wrong, i wouldnt recommend it to beginners or people without sensitivity. I could cry if i read reviews of breeders nowadays. Every bad review is obviously by a beginner without any experience that fcked up his own seeds. You shouldnt put it compeltly in the soil if its that long, just sink the root into the earth. You have to be careful to not cut the root with the shell. If you dont move the seeds frequently in the papertowel they will grow into it and lose all their rootshairs before planting them. I think thats the main things everyone that has a problem with this method tends to forget or simply dislikes. I would say plant it directly into soil, if you cant wait only do it 2-3mm deep, just a very thin layer, so it sprouts fast and you can see the success, but doesnt try out from the top. After you can higher the earth in your pot by a amount of few more mm, so it doesnt break itself out the earth

Directly in soil is the only way I germinate seeds and have done so for 40 years. Paper towel method is for people who can't manage to do it like nature intended. Best to plant seeds when they only have a quarter inch root if using paper towel, waiting until they have an inch long taproot is waiting too long and is the reason why you are only getting a 40% success rate.

In my opinions is much better to do the seed directly into to soil anyway.

since i stopped touching seeds multiple times with napkins, checks for root tap and etc ...... - my rate went almost to 100%. now always seed from pack straight to soil and no games in between ...