I think bottom heat and good humidity(a zip lock bag) are the key.

I treated the seeds horribly for years. Everything you're not supposed to do I did, letting them dry out, NOT keeping them cool(I kept them @70+ degrees), I didn't even soak them before laying them between wet paper towels.

After laying them flat in a freezer bag, I placed them on a paper plate and placed the plate on top of a low hanging fluorescent(4') shop light for the gentle heat. 2 weeks later I have at least 40-50 seedlings.

I started a lot thinking the germination rate would be low....Wrong!