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NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

I planted my seeds ata one inch depth in peat pots on 4-27. Yesterday, feeling a little disapointed that they still did not sprout, I decided to remove some dirt from the peat pots and see what perhaps went wrong. Well I discovered that the seeds were about 2+ inches below the surface of their peat pots. I barely covered them thinking that maybe they used too much energy trying to sprout and this morning one of them had sprouted. Just waiting to see if the other one sprouts tomorrow. Oh BTW, the very top of the second one is just barely exposed. Is that ok? Should I attempt to start another seed? In a way I am glad this happened or mine would have been outside just like docs and perhaps the same fate. So maybe this is just as well.

5/4/2005 7:34:28 PM

[email protected]

The second one is probably also pushing it's way skyward. Patience Grasshopper.

5/4/2005 8:40:16 PM

Montoursville, PA

Sounds to me like you are in good shape, my friend. If they are both to be planted you really should have a back up for both, in case something weird and unexpected happens.

Plant two more, of anything you could live with if you had to.

5/4/2005 9:27:57 PM

It takes a lot of time for moisture to travel through the shell of a pumpkin seed. If you have a chance look up under the 'How to...' link on the home page of this site and read the article on Advanced Seed Starting Method. I have been using this method with great results. I started my four seeds this year by carefully picking off the outer shell till the embryo was left being carefull not to puncture it or break off the tip. I placed them in ziploc baggies wrapped in moist paper towel and set them on the fridge. I did this thursday night. When I came home on Saturday afternoon one of the four seeds had a 2 in root and all of them germinated with 1 in roots at the time. I quickly moved them into pots.

This is an excellent easy method and is quick and fast if done carefully and properly. Don't do this on your seed now as it probably has germinated already. If you have some seeds kicking around that you won't use or whatever, give this method a try, but don't do it your first time on one of your prize seeds. Anyways Good Luck! And be patient. Last year my first year it took me 10 to 14 days to germinate my seeds cause I had no clue what I was doing.

5/4/2005 10:16:19 PM

New Hampshire

I bought Dills Atlantic from Johnny's Seeds in Maine. 17 seeds. I clipped the casing from the point about 2/3 up each side, and did the ziplock and paper towel thing. Germinated in 3 days, they are 9 days old now and I have 16 plants. I have them in 4 inch square pots. This is my first attempt at growing. I have a 20x20 plot tilled up and have amended the soil with compost and aged cow manure. I am thinking of trying 3 vines. Plenty of room outside the tilled patch for them to grow. What does anyone think

5/5/2005 1:44:22 AM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

See, that is why I ask everyone in BP when I don't know. Now that I have read all the replies above, it looks so obvious. Sometimes you need another point of view. Thanks everyone. I am going to start a backup for the seeds this morning. I know I should of when I first started them. I filed my seeds and also soaked them. Has anyone else also filed and soaked their seeds? I know you should do either one or the other but has anyone ever both filed and soaked their seeds?

5/5/2005 7:25:48 AM

Follansbee, Wv

If I'm not mistaken, most people who file also soak. I do anyway.

5/5/2005 8:07:50 AM

Montoursville, PA

In my experiments I get exactly one day's difference to emergence between filing and soaking and doing nothing.

Since I see one day as nothing, in the plan, of a growing year one may do as he or she chooses.

Seeds in the Northeast go into the ground from late April through May 15th. and sometimes later.

Getting all fussed up about any way, of handling the germination process is maybe interesting and fun but...some of those methods lead, to more problems than they purported solve. The first dangerous pathegon peddler is the grower not to mention the one most likely to cause physical damage filing and messing with his rectal. :)

The basic question is: What difference could a single day make anyway? I suggest the KISMIF method. "Keep it Simple Make it Fun".

5/5/2005 12:03:30 PM

C N Y

good advice , doc.
i myself am too impatient.
seeds are like red lights to me---come on, let's GO! lol--eric

5/6/2005 1:48:02 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

My son entered into a science fair and the theme of his experement was seed germination. He used jack-o-lantern seeds. He tried filing them, he tried soaking them, he tried both. He even tried some other methods that I am not familiar with. Same here doc, all those special methods only sprouted the seeds no more than one day earlier. His conclusion on that part of the experement was that over a 100 to 120 day growing season, one day will not make much of an impact and even if it did, there are more important variables such as weather that would make a larger impact than a seed sprouting a day earlier.

5/6/2005 6:24:44 PM