From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Lake Elmo, Minnesota

Anyone out there have germination difficulty with this seed? I've now attempted two of them this spring and zero germination. My six other seeds came up in 72 hours. 85 degrees, 4" peat pots, sterilized seed starter mix, etc....
After seven days, I've dug up the seed and shell hadn't even split. It was filed very lightly and soaked for 4 hours in warm water. Wondering if it's just too old????

5/12/2003 1:46:25 PM

New Brunswick

I had a couple of seeds that did not germinate in a week. All ten of my other seeds did germinate in three days or less. The two that did not were 2002 seeds....out of two different pumpkins. The seeds looked just fine...I open them up after a week and they had spoiled.

5/12/2003 4:11:44 PM

syracuse, ny

i have heard of, though haven't yet used, liquid seaweed as a germination-helper, for soaking in, or possibly a little higher temp. at 90 degrees if you can keep very accurate track of the temp. i use the $9.95 Radio Shack digital ones with the outdoor sensing 'bulb' placed in the peat pot right alongside the actual starting seed...'pal

5/12/2003 5:30:31 PM

Lake Elmo, Minnesota

I would give it a full week before giving up. Anyone think more time would be beneficial??

5/13/2003 9:42:08 AM

Columbus, Ohio

I am at one week now and mine are just popping through the soil. I think the cool weather affected mine. Most of mine are starting to germinate though...give it more time.

5/13/2003 12:50:10 PM

syracuse, ny

in 2000, when i got my first real AGs from Joel Holland, they didn't sprout for me, i ordered more, and before i got the new bunch, i set aside the other ones.....then while the new ones were in the same germination scenario, the old ones, which had practically dried up in the pile of junk i had accumulated, started to sprout....i think sometimes temperature is not the only thing that these seeds look for.
perhaps the amount of moisture had to be JUST right as well, as the temperature was nowhere near 85-90 degrees F.
so if you set them aside, they may still sprout for you!
i got some pretty nice plants and fruit outta the whole deal! 'pal

5/13/2003 1:27:13 PM

Lake Elmo, Minnesota

Heard from a heavy hitter today. She had planted two 920 Coles this year and they took almost two weeks. I won't give up yet.

5/13/2003 3:52:20 PM

Lake Elmo, Minnesota

Today, gently dug around the seed without actually touching it. Seed coat has split and root is beginning to emerge. Appreciate the advice to continue waiting. Some seeds just take longer.

5/15/2003 10:40:57 AM