Growing Japanese Maple from Seeds

[Angel3K]

One of my gardening clients gave me like a 3 inch Japanese Maple that she said she grow from seeds. It is outdoors for now, just hiding under the huge hosta leaves. And I may not plant it on the ground this year, but next year.

So, I got curious about this lovely tree and I ordered 2 packs of 25 seeds of Japanese Maple.

Upon searching online, basically, I soaked this seed for 24 hours, then stratify in the vegie crisper for 90 days, then plant it in growing medium.
Another method was also sowing in a container outdoors, and it says this is most natural way of growing JMs, and I won't see any germination until year two. The first year, the seeds will just sleep and get ready. Ah, 2 years of long wait!

Anyone else has another method of growing from seeds...which may work?

Thanks.
Angelina