I have been given a number of seeds from a Quince shrub which I am
interested in seeing if I can germinate, and I'd appreciate some
guidance please.

The adult plant is a Quince shrub, about four to five feet tall with
many small golfball sized fruits. It tends to hold its leaves most of
the year and though it sets fruit mainly in the autumn, tends to have
a few all year round.

The seeds look like apple seeds, hard and brown. They came from a
fully ripe fruit. I have discarded the small infertile ones.

Can these larger plump seeds be germinated? If so, how do I go about
this please? I understand they need a cold period.

If I could germinate them, what time of year should I try to do this?
If I do it now, will I end up having to nursemaid a growing plant all
winter indoors because we have long wet winters here in southern
Scotland.

Thanks in advance for the help.