Just to add my 2 cents, I'll share my method. Once the stone fruit seed is
removed from the fruit, I wash and air dry. I then store in the
refridgerator dry, with the shell on, until I am ready to have them
germinate. I take the pits out of the refridgerator, add some moist peat
moss, and place back in the refridgerator, in packages of 25. Usually, in 2
or 3 weeks, I have germination; although not all germinate at once and some
seeds do not germinate for 5-6 weeks. After this time, I remove all the
shells, as sometimes this helps with germination. I check every weekend for
germination and for penicillin mold. Ones that have the mold, I clean and
put in a separate package so as to not infect the others, which is another
reason why I don't have 1 package of 200 seeds.
I have successfully germinated about 33%-50% of moldy seeds that others
would have thrown away. Even though this method is far from perfect, there
is a lot less contamination than if I had the pits in moist peat most for 3
months or more.
Dean Kreutzer
Regina, Saskatchewan Canada
USDA zone 3
www.overthehillorchards.ca