In the last couple of years I've tried growing Ipomoea pandurata from seed, unsuccessfully. Yesterday I tried a new technique... something I've successfully done with lotus seeds (Nelumbo lutea). I rubbed the Ipomoea seeds against sandpaper to remove a portion of the outer coating, then I placed the seeds in warm water. Almost 24 hours later all 9 seeds are swelling up nicely and "fractures" are forming across the whole seed coat. Later today I'll plant them in some small pots and expect to get germination almost immediately. In the past those pesky beetle (Nicrophorus?) larvae would eat the seeds from within before they could germinate. I think this new technique will thwart them. Dennis in Frozen Ohio