From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Germinating newish seeds is pretty easy, go with standard practice and expect good results. Germinating older pumpkin seeds, for me at least, is problematic. Assuming the old seed hasn't starved to death and is still viable, what medium would you use? Moisture consistency like agar or other gelatin products is hit and miss. Who has been able to pop a 10 year + seed and what did you do? Any replies appreciated, trying to pop an old classic.

3/7/2017 9:32:41 PM

[email protected]

Gibberellic works on old seeds. You mix the powder in water and soak the seeds in it for 6-9 hrs or overnight type of thing. I would also suggest the paper towel and baggy and a constant 85 degree temp.

If you use the baggie system, don't seal it totally closed keep it about 1/4 open.
I have an old hovabator incubator and I can control the temp to within 2 degrees.

You may have an issue with a white seeds as they don't seem to have the shelf life tan seeds do.

3/7/2017 10:45:06 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Thanks Eddy, I have some GA3 left over from the fall. Will try what you did.

3/8/2017 6:37:25 AM

Massachusetts

I did pretty much what Eddy suggested this week on 6 seeds from 2007. Here is a look.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=269691

3/9/2017 11:55:36 AM

[email protected]

Tom the 3 on the right treated with ga3 is very typical to what I have had in the past and probably means too strong of a solution, sure like the looks of the other 3

3/9/2017 6:54:39 PM