You need to soak the bilberries overnight, separate seeds and plant in acid soil mix on surface and use a spray mister to water them. It takes 3-6 months to germinate and give them dappled light but mostly bright shade. If you don't have acid soil mix, mix peat moss with whatever soil your using. I used Fox Farm happy frog soil and mixed a little peat moss in it and had great results. You being in California shouldn't have to worry about the heat/humidity cooking your plants, just make sure they are always moist. Have patience if you want them bad enough and the seeds from horizonherbs.com WILL sprout with great germination rates.