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Gone With The Win

I am a newbie. I sanded 2 seeds and put them in a damp paper towel in a zip lock baggie, on heat mat..And they smell sour and mushy...Maybe to hot of a temp?

4/12/2019 11:40:52 PM

San Diego, Ca.

Sounds to me like your paper towel may have been too damp.
I also sand the edges of the seed but I also like to chip the tip of the seed off to expose the tip where the root forms but you have to be VERY careful if you do that because it is easy to damage the tip inside (practice with a few seeds you do not intend to grow until you feel comfortable). Then I soak my seed for 45-60 minutes.
I like to get the paper towel wet and then squeeze it until no water is running out of it. Since the seed has already been soaked, you only need the paper towel to be damp enough to keep the seed from drying out. Place it in a ziploc bag and then place it on your heat mat. You want the temp to be around 80-85°. I usually get germination in 24-48 hours. Everyone has their own way of starting seeds but this has worked the best for me. Hope this helps you out.

4/13/2019 12:37:04 AM

Grittyville, WA

I also had no luck at first with paper towel method. More air and less water... And, yes, double check your temp. If none of that works then next step would be use something mild to sterilize or switch to seed mix.

4/13/2019 2:11:14 AM

Syracuse, NY

starting pumpkin seeds can rejuvenate whatever rot was in the pumpkin at the time of harvest as well, like, if the seeds were in a bucket from a purchaser of a pumpkin whom saved the seeds for the grower you got the seeds from; this would be especially evident when you are expecting to only smell a nice, clean paper towel, lol---do not squeeze these seeds aimed AT you...you'll have the stink on YOU by then, lol---
you could also try my 'new' method that NO ONE HAS EVEN LOOKED AT:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=300830

what i've seen with this and is the biggest advantage to it is, ironically, that there is NO fungus when sprouting or nursing the seeds/seedlings---ONLY after about a week of not sprouting does any visible, non-pumpkin growth occur, which is really cool----eg

4/13/2019 2:30:08 AM

Grittyville, WA

Personally I would not try to chip the coat off a dry, unsoaked seed. (Hasn't gone well or me. Maybe Gourdzilla would agree its easier to do this after the seed coat has been moistened for 24 hrs?)
Healthy seeds should germinate easily and vigorously the "advanced technique" which is useful for old seeds should be completely unnecessary.

4/13/2019 2:34:01 AM

Grittyville, WA

Lol... EG... You know the old timers wont like you recommending your new method to a newbie... I am laughing though. I hope you are ok if we point the new guy towards seed starting mix. For me seed starting mix has been the easiest overall. I will let someone else answer on this though. I am done.

4/13/2019 2:39:21 AM

Grittyville, WA

Joel Holland vids... That's everything I know!

4/13/2019 2:58:28 AM

Hanson Ma

I’ve never had luck with the paper towel method. I always start the seed in a small cup. Yogurt cups with a few holes drilled in the bottom. I set up in seed starting tray with heat mat and temp control set for 87 deg. Damp potting soil. I always use fox farm. Usaully mix of ocean forest and happy frog. I have never used starting mix. Getting pretty good results and I stopped sanding seeds. They get a 2 hour soak in warm water. Also check out Mark Clementz video. When I was having issues. (To much water). I went looking for my mistake. His video helped me out a lot. My mistake was I always felt it just needed a little more water. I was drowning my seeds.

4/13/2019 5:31:46 AM

Syracuse, NY

TomTim, if you don't have one already, a DIGITAL thermometer is a GREAT idea, then you'll KNOW what the temperature is---they can be gotten at any Wal-Mart or I dunno where else, but, invaluable for seed-starting; I had three from Radio Shack and they were perfect, but now only one is left and the one from Wal-Mart; I'd better get a few more!
This one even has a high and low memory, C* and F*, nice, long probe cord---checked for model #, there isn't one, lol.
just 'Accu-Rite'; works for me!
plus, yeah, perfect opportunity to direct others to my method---it got YOU there, Brandon! Baby steps, ha ha ha---eg

4/13/2019 3:51:57 PM

Syracuse, NY

Personally, I see the paper towel method as an 'advanced' method because how much LESS-advanced can you get than warmed seed-starting mix, in a peat pot, each MADE for seed-starting? lol---
what worked for my 188 seeds from 2010:
1-QUART ZipLoc bag, 1/3 full of Hoffman's Seed-Starting Mix, probably ALREADY as damp as a piece of CAKE; threw about 6 seeds in there and
SEALED the bag with it being about HALF-puffy still; you could even add ONE tablespoon H20 to it and shake it around if it is JUST too dry;

(:>)***"Roll, roll, roll the seeds, gently as I go...
I have no doubts I'll soon have spouts -
In three days I will know..."***(<:)

Catchy!

It was 3-4 days, viewing and rolling the mix around and Voila! Sprouts!
easy, never have tried with anything else, but, right THERE's another method.
and, no heat applied. room temp (69-75, maybe);
They're 'newer' and wanna sprout!
PS---TIM--if you want more seeds to practice on, so you can try many methods, I'm the guy, 'cause once they sprout, you'll be like hmmm, these Gerry seeds are really doing great! I think I'll plant these ones and...ahem. just fyi, lol---eg

4/13/2019 4:37:26 PM

Grittyville, WA

I like the potting mix recommendation. A good pottong mix should be the same as seed starting mix. Ive been unlucky at times sometimes they mix them wrong but find one that works for you. If you have a special seed then use test seeds first. Once you know the mix is good use potting mix from literally from the same bag (not just the same brand since if you have my luck there will be inconsistencies between different bags within the same brand) to plant the more valuable seed.
(Who really wants to be this careful/paranoid?)

EG I am enough of a bp junkie I already saw the agar posts. And you know what? Maybe I will try it just to be a rebel like you.

4/13/2019 5:47:15 PM

Syracuse, NY

Yeah, it only works on Gerry seeds---part of my evil plan(t).
There WAS a Johnny PumpkinSeed, but he had a hard time getting around, so his genetics died out over the years, lol---eg

4/13/2019 5:50:45 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

A thermometer is a must! When you get that popcorn smell... game over.

4/13/2019 5:54:01 PM

Hanson Ma

Zen hydro has a good price on thermostats for seed Matt’s. $12.00 best price I’ve found.

4/13/2019 6:06:39 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Agree with Orangeneck Jim.

I guess you didn’t read all the comments in your last thread. Did you listen and put the seeds at the recommended temps? Also, damp is usually too damp with new folks. You really need to fold the paper towel, wring it, then repeat a few times.

4/13/2019 7:59:32 PM

Gone With The Win

Yes smallmouth instant read thermometer said 85 degrees. When I cracked the zip lock open to check

4/13/2019 8:25:08 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Then probably too damp. As stated before, paper towel method works very well when done right and gives fast results, but there is small room for error. Maybe put some in sterile soil at a controlled temp too. Those tend to take longer, but are easier to do. You’re gonna need to get something going soon, the hard part is about to happen. lol, but it’s addicting.

4/13/2019 8:33:04 PM

Grittyville, WA

I've commented plenty but I have another. Oxygen/air is not discussed much and it should be. A flat zip lock baggie contsins how much oxygen? A pumpkin seed has 1/4 gram of carbohydates in it. Could you burn a candle for 2 minutes (1/4 gram of wax x 2) in the amount of air in a flattened plastic bag? No.

I think seeds will simply run out of air also. Very moist with air can work, possibly, but moist with no air thats a real struggle.

4/13/2019 9:28:02 PM

Grittyville, WA

This is a bit technical-I will spare you the calculation-but the amount of air needed for respiration of the entire 1/4 gram of carbohydrates in a pumpkin seed would be equivalent to the air needed to burn a candle for one minute.

A tiny amount of H202 could go a long ways towards supplying the needed oxygen.

There, seed starting made as a scary & technical as possible :(

4/13/2019 9:46:58 PM

Georgia

thermostat is a must, jump start sells one for like 15 bucks. One time my thermostat sensor fell of the pad, and when I put it back on the pad was 96 degrees. So, I am in the camp that you can cook your seeds without a thermostat to maintain a constant temperature.

4/13/2019 10:33:18 PM

Syracuse, NY

OKay, I just (X 2) put 3 188 seeds from 2010 in a ZipLoc bag with a damp paper towel, squeezed all the air out of one and the other is kinda puffy for Brandon, and put them in my living room, where you KNOW they won't get cold 'cause I'm getting tender in my old age, lol...let's just say they won't get cold...and I'll see if even IIIII can use the PT method. I'd better do it now that I've said I DID it, hah!----eg

4/14/2019 1:37:13 AM

Grittyville, WA

Wait... you're trying what I was saying might be the wrong way e.g.? I am a marked man now.

4/14/2019 2:15:16 AM

Syracuse, NY

Well, i DO have one with and one without much air in the ZipLoc---surprised what i had to go through for each strategy; I learned that ONE way to get most of the air outta the ZL is to quad-fold a towel and put that on top of the ZL, with only ONE small area to seal whilst under the pressure of the towel;

the one WITH the puffy distinction i placed the 3 seeds on the paper towel (I literally put the seeds' Mason jar on top of the DOUBLY quad-folded paper towel in the sink and pressed it with about 15 pounds of force, twice, then unfolded to quad-size to fill the ZL) and used my forceps to drag the PT into the ZL and then had to use the forceps to delicately pull up on the ZL's midsection to keep a puffy shape to the ZL and seal it at the same time. Next time, will put the PT in FIRST and place the seeds with the forceps, lol---No prob, now , i'm a master at it, lol---we'll see---eg

4/14/2019 2:25:11 AM

Walhalla, ND.

Pumpkinpal2. I use a straw to get the air out of my ziplocks. Zip it up till you can only get a small straw “the size you get at the bar” in the unzipped corner then suck the air out, pull straw out while sucking and quickly zip.

4/14/2019 6:57:27 AM

Grittyville, WA

Well Im learning lots... It would be nice to feel less stupid since Im resigning myself to just trying for a pb. Learning anything else is a bonus.

4/14/2019 9:05:47 AM

Guelph, Ontario

The seeds need air to germinate.

4/14/2019 9:48:01 AM

Syracuse, NY

Okay, Hobbit, great idea and I'll keep it in-mind for next time I do anything requiring it. DO try the folded towel method yourself---I was SO proud to have thought of it, lol---If I'm ever stranded on an island, I DO hope it's with a few AG growers; we'd either stay there and grow Sand Giants or inventively get off that island pretty quickly! later---eg

4/15/2019 1:44:40 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Irischap, not for this method. If done right in a slightly damp towel folded multiple times, then placed in a Ziploc on a heat source at the correct temp, the see can shoot a tap root within 24 hours. Then it is moved to the correct soil medium with air to finish germinating.

4/15/2019 8:22:16 AM

Syracuse, NY

just for fun, these ones are at about 75 degrees whenever i'm around and not much lower than that when I'm at work (63-67 or so) just to see the lower parameter of the temp. range - - - i'm too cheap yet to use long-term germination warmth just yet! just 24 hours 'til i expect to see SOMETHING...i'd better pull up a chair; that weigh i can sleep on and off and be right there when the MOLD sets in! Oops, i might BREATHE on it and throw off the experiment, lol---eg

4/16/2019 1:24:16 AM

Syracuse, NY

awww, no sprouts yet!
the fact that NONE of them are starting up yet just makes me more exuberant in thinking that i just may be starting seeds that i will actually GROW in '19 here (!). I have wanted to get an early start, so...maybe tomorrow---eg

4/17/2019 2:15:16 AM

Guelph, Ontario

Having air is part of the biology of germinating. In a slightly damp towel the difference between wet and slightly damp is the trapped air.

Removing air from bag is not something that works towards better germination.

4/17/2019 11:35:47 AM

Syracuse, NY

please see my diary concerning the results of my experiment:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=301530

BE SURE TO ALSO SEE MY EXPERIMENTS WITH AGAR---eg

4/20/2019 1:58:03 AM

Syracuse, NY

Please know that the next day, today, there are two newly-sprouted seeds in what appeared to be a lost cause the day before;
pic is pending:

henceforth, producing the following:

1. a ZipLoc with NO air in it, 1, then 2 more sprouts the next-day and
2. a ZipLoc with SOME air in it that had one sprout at the same time
as the one without air in it, and also
3. two more sprouts the next, next day, after transferring the
airy seeds to the airless environment.
Regardless of the 'minute' time frame, in 4 days 2 sprouts, in 5 days 4 sprouts and in 6 days the remaining, transferred 2 sprouted, so,
100% germination with a NOTICEABLE accent on airless ZipLoc sprouting---i give it a '!!!'. try it yourself, people! eg

4/20/2019 2:11:46 AM

Grittyville, WA

Tim-Let us know if you have more trouble. If you run out of seeds I am sure someone will help you with seeds... or even a spare plant or two.

4/20/2019 5:54:09 AM