24 hours or until it’s cracked open?

Not a great idea............direct in substrate is the safest and easiest mthod............

hey 👋 Unless your seeds are 1 or 2 years old, soaking is not necessary. I recommend the paper towel technique, which is very effective: you place your seeds between two paper towels in a closed (and therefore dark) container, at room temperature, keeping the towels moist but without adding extra water (which blocks oxygen); after 2 days, you will see their shells splitting, and when the roots are 1.5–2 cm long, you can plant them directly in a light substrate or in peat pellets 👌

Just don't expose it to light and try not to touch the nascent root too much. Some let it develop more, some don't... i'd suggest direct to substrate - whether you soak or not. roots should not be exposed to light nor a dirty finger. Less steps / less risks If you want consistend germination times, get a heating mat. Near;y all my seeds sprout within 2.5-4 days. Half typically sprout before 3 days. *sprout is after germination... the time it takes for a couple inches of root to push it above ground, i'd wager, if comparing the time of each process. I'm sure it germinates within 24, despite unseen.