In cartoons, people throw a few seeds down on the ground and seconds later a field of flowers appears. In reality, growing plants from seeds is somewhat more complicated, but an expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences says that the average gardener can do it successfully. Seeds can survive cold, drought and any generally nasty condition you can think of.
Some plants have hard, waxy seed coats that are nearly waterproof.
Berghage recommends cracking the seed coat by lightly scraping the seed with sandpaper. Some seeds may need a cool, moist period in order to break down substances that keep the seed from germinating. Berghage points out that the two most important elements in providing an appropriate environment are moisture and temperature. Seeds will become dormant if they dry out. A quality potting soil can help in avoiding dryness or over-saturation.