From

Location

Message

Date Posted

West Chazy,N.Y.

Hi Everyone!!!!
My question is why are my seeds that I saved from my pumpkin last year, not germinating? I dryed my seeds in a Dehydrator for 8 hrs. then I put them in a plastic bag and stored them on a shelf in the garage.
( garage is not heated) I have stored other seeds in the garage for the winter and used them in the spring!

5/2/2005 5:48:25 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

What kind of dehydrator? What temp?

5/2/2005 8:08:44 PM

Ohio

Randy, I was told to let them dry at the lowest temp for atleast 2 days.

Brooks

5/2/2005 11:43:14 PM

Canada

All of my seeds from last year, I basically took them from the pumpkin washed them layed them out on a screen in front of a fan for 2 days then placed them in a box in front closet of house turning them every other day for 2 weeks then placed them into a zip lock baggie and kept them in the closet over winter almost 6 months later i did some seeds tests and all germinated ok.

Dave

5/3/2005 12:32:27 AM

West Chazy,N.Y.

I used an American Harvister dehydrator, it has an auto temp control and not sure what temp it is. Thanks for the info.

5/3/2005 4:40:12 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

There may be your problem. My Garden harvestor has a thermostat which you can set the temp. 80°-140°F. I am not sure what thwe killing temperature would be for an AG seed but I am guessing anything above 120° would cook it.

5/3/2005 9:04:31 AM

C N Y

8 hours was not long enough. they may have felt or appeared dry, but were not. unless, of course, that "auto"-temp control was thinking it was supposed to fry them, not dry them. mine does about 95 degrees at its lowest setting, and i wouldn't put the seeds into storage until
at least 3-4 days' time has passed----
they may have been moist internally, and then they may have become frozen in the garage.....eric

5/3/2005 5:29:30 PM

Midway City, California

Wash them and place between three or four pages of news paper. Let them dry for about a week, remove the seeds from the pages & put them in a jar with the cover that has Air holes and place in a cool dry place. This is what I do

5/3/2005 8:54:39 PM

West Chazy,N.Y.

Thanks everyone!! I'll have to try these Ideas this year.

5/7/2005 8:21:31 PM