It is the chilling of bulbs or trees that is needed to trigger flowering. Tulips will bloom the first year you buy them, but it requires the chill of winter to bloom the 2nd year. This is also true of trees.

Yes, that would make sense. I think I'm right in saying that some type od seeds need a period of winter chill and frost before being able to germinate come warmer temperatures. I suppose things have to have their natural cycle.

You can get round this, if you have room in your fridge, by mixing the seeds with a little damp compost, seal them in a platic bag and put them in the fridge for a few weeks (anywhere between 2-6 weeks depending on the seed). Take them out and plant them into a seed tray and they should then grow

I did that before once, with primrose seeds.

Stratification is chilling the seeds before attempting germination. Vernalization is the chilling of a tree or bulb to induce flowering.

Thanks for putting the record straight Wylieintheazores. They say you should learn something new every day and that's my bit of learning for today!

And the other one for aiding seed germination os 'scarification', I believe.