New Grower germination method- paper towel or direct into soil

[Reedroguez]

But what's the advantage? I'm approaching my first grow and curious myself. What advantage is there to paper towels or shot glasses over just dropping the seed in the dirt?

What Gardenhackle said. Same goes for paper towel. Only reason for me for using the paper towel is because it's easier/quicker to see if a seed wants to grow or not, I might use the shotglass too next time
Problem is that if you plant a seed in the dirt and you still don't see a plant after 7 days and than wait another day or two before going digging around to see what's up you've lost so much time already :/

 

[BII]

Rapid Rooter and similar plugs of relatively inert media/soil also work very well. I recall considerable positive comments on AFN regarding Rapid Rooter plugs and similar products. They work well at what they are designed to do.