Full moon,
I have done also the paper towel method to not have "voids" in my garden where one seeds was eaten or not sprout. I had particularly better results with some legumes that way because planting in the soil sometimes here in New England is too wet or cold nights and they rot. I basically saw the corn as it was sprouting within the same day. I put some corn seeds in the morning and the next day the roots were already out, it's cool for kids!. So be warned that with corn, beans and easy to sprout seeds a DAY only may be required.Do it when you are ready to plant the seedlings outdoors within few days or you might have to pot up to transplant later (Which I have also done
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I don't own a germination mat so I pop them in my oven with the pilot light on. Good luck!