Meigs, for hard to pop beans, I do this: I'll take a small fingernail file, and score the pointed end of the seed, just a little, right along the seam that opens. Next I place them in a little glass vile with water in it, and let them soak a day in a dark place. floating them in a glass will work. Afterwards, just use normal germ procedures that work for you. I have to do this with my hard to crack mexi gold seeds, and it sure helps.
As for males and pollen: after their flowers open and spread out, pollen is already in the air. it's possible for them to transfer pollen to one another -- not a good idea for exacting crosses. Are you able to put your males outside? (privacy and space) I have a room in my house, away from my grow shed, where I mature males under three 65w cfl's. Just inside my 'male room', I also have a white tyvek painters coverall, and surgical room booties and latex gloves. I put them on when entering, and remove as I leave. Pollen can get everywhere. Occasionally, my outside plants will have a seed or three, and I'm certain someone else is growing within a half mile or so from me, or I have transfered unwanted pollen on my cloths.

I guess what I'm trying to say, is be careful dealing with pollen...
Brussels

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Ya gotta love those T5's
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"Some of my finest hours have been spent on my back veranda smoking hemp and observing as far as my eye could see."---Thomas Jefferson- 1781