I soak them 48 hours and change the water once or twice depending on how murky it looks. I do this at room temperature. They need to stay cold for at least 6 weeks, but sometimes I put them in pots or trays after 4 weeks and leave them outside in the cold to free up space in the fridge. (Unless they sprout during their time in the fridge, then I pot them up and keep them inside under lights. )