In about a month's time, put them in a small plastic bag with some peat ( or similar), and stick 'em in the fridge for three weeks. That's their 'winter'. Then sow them in a pan/shallow pot, in ordinary compost (leaf mould's best, but have you kept your rotted leaves just for this very occasion? No? Thought not!). Not deep, just covered with a thin scattering of the same compost, water them gently, 'til the compost's moist, put them in a sheltered position, out in the garden, and wait. It's not 'Jack and The Beanstalk' stuff, so in about a month or so after that you should see the seeds germinating. If the seed's fertile, you'll get a mix of green and pehaps some reddish leafed babies. Don't expect variegation. From seed, they'll just be normal acer palmatum. You can put them in the greenhouse after sowing, for extra protection when they germinate. Worthy

Is all this really necessary, Worthy? Sown in a pot of seed compost and left outdoors the seeds will take longer to germinate but won't need all the fussing. I have never found the need to artificially stratify seeds in the fridge and there is plenty of cold weather to come yet, unfortunately. If they should germinate rapidly then I would move the seedlings into the greenhouse until about April. I agree that they are unlikely to come up varigated but you could get some interesting colours and leaf forms.

I thought I'd do exam question answer, as he asked. But, yes, B, you're qite right. Sown outside, they'll do their own thing quite happily. W

The problem with an 'exam answer' to me is that it is likely to put the new grower off trying. KISS is my motto :-)

Ok, I won't bother again. W

Worthy that is not what I was suggesting, there is a place for the long answer. But for someone who has just joined GoY and asked their first question to get a long explanation may simply put them off trying.