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Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Hey all; Since I am letting the dogs loose late this year, and since there was some question about whether peroxide is causing the curly cots, I decided to start 8 of the same seeds (682 Edwards, which is 842 Eaton x self)...4 soaking in 3% peroxide and 4 in water. All 8 were filed, then set to soak at 85 F for 20 hours. All four peroxide starts came up. 3 of four water soaked seeds germ'd. Lost one. The peroxide starts were up quicker. But every one of them has curly, deformed looking cots. All cots on water soaked seeds look normal. So in the future I will either be returning to soaking in water, or use peroxide for a period less than 20 hours. Or maybe diluting down the peroxide further.
Anyway, just wanted to report my experience with peroxide vs. water...
Frank

5/23/2005 7:08:53 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Fully agree...3% peroxide is to harsh for an over night soak with filed seed casings...warm water...etc helps quite a bit..but filed seeds overnight hate 3%

5/23/2005 7:25:08 PM

Ohio

I did the same thing but only soaked 1 seed in plain water and it came up curly,so go figure.I thought peroxide had something to do with my cots being curly aswell,but this plain water soaked seed that came up yesterday is the curliest of them all.

5/23/2005 7:58:26 PM

Ohio

Im going to start using just plain water for now on though. I wonder how many seeds where soaked in Peroxide that turned out to be a double vined plant verses just a water soaked seed.....Hmmmmmmm

5/23/2005 8:01:33 PM

Canada

Agree, I found out the same thing this year, All my plants started with Peroxide hver really tight twisted curly cots
and the plants dont look that great at all, Plants started in a very weak solution with seaweed ( first batch ) are best plants currently in the patch and starting to vine!!

next year I'll stick with just "plain" water myself.

Dave

5/23/2005 9:37:59 PM

Applegate, Oregon

Ditto...peroxide caused issues with me also, only an 8 hour soak.

5/23/2005 9:56:51 PM

[email protected]

I never have a full 8 hour sleep. So overnight here is 6-7 hours at best. But straight 3% hasn't proven to be a problem here so far. Perhaps my lack of sleep has something to do with it?

I would never soak a seed for 20 hours in anything. The lack of oxygen might have more to do with the curly cots than the peroxide in this case. Peroxide adds a LITTLE Oxygen. But it's not going to prevent drowning.

5/23/2005 10:05:35 PM

Follansbee, Wv

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=30676

Look here and a few posts down from that. H2O2 does seem to have an adverse affect on seedlings. After all, it is highly corrosive. I use a 27% solution in my pool as a non-chlorine shock treatment. After my winter testing, I'm pitching peroxide into the myth bin with the milk.

5/23/2005 10:07:04 PM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=3440

This is what 0.035% H2O2 did for some peas of mine compared to plain water.That strength is 85X weaker than 3%.

5/24/2005 12:16:59 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

I soaked all my seeds in 3% hydrogen peroxide.
All have curly cots.
I'm sure hoping the plants aren't mutated.

5/24/2005 12:22:03 AM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

I soaked my 1st seeds for 8 hours in 50%peroxide 50%water.Every plant had curly cots.I soaked backup seeds in same mixture for 8 hours 6 of the seeds were the exact same seed as the 1st seeds. None of the 2nd plants had curly cots.The only thing I changed was the potting mix that I used.The 1st mix was miracle grow that had fertilizer in it. The 2nd mix was potting mix with no fertilizers in it.

5/24/2005 6:51:18 AM

Montoursville, PA

BINGO! POTTING MIX WITH NO FERTILIZERS is one of the answers. Four hours in a mix of 3% peroxide with water mixed 50/50 by volume is another one, of the answers. A trace of kelp, wormcast, willow twig or alfafa tea may serve
up a gentle root boost as good as anything else.

The more seeds are pushed and handled the more dangers are entered into the picture. The basic truth is the extra half day or even one day that may be gained can not be used to any great advantage.

I have heard the fears, of normal natural germination. They are just plain and simple human engineering where it is not needed. If a seed is loaded up with pathegons it is like a cancer. The surgen spreads it more than he removes it. If your potting soil is not pathegon free it should not be used. If the pot is not new or properly cleaned it should not be used. All the food and growth promoter elements are, in the seed, for the first ten or more days, of life. Let nature run it's course. Plant a few extras, in the unlikely case you may have one bad seed, in a dozen. Playing with the tender awakening seed is fun but it does not transpire without entering a lot, of questions one, of which is the bacteria and other chemical elements that are, on your fingers....not to mention what are fillers or residules, in your paper wrapping products.

5/24/2005 8:17:13 AM

Oz

i soaked only in water.99% had funky cots.

5/24/2005 8:19:01 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

FYI, all mine went into Miracle Grow potting mix. For me, only the peroxide soaked seeks exhibited the problem...not the water soaked seeds...pointing to peroxide as the offending variable.
Steve Z.'s results would suggest the potting mix, not the soaking solution, is to blame. So perhaps as the good Doc suggests, both are variables to be avoided...or at least tested further next winter...

As for me, I learned that the latest, newest way of doing things is not always better. I'm going back to water.
Frank

5/24/2005 11:42:48 AM

Cincinnati,OH

I soaked my non filed seeds 4 hours in 3% h2o2 diluted 50% with water. I used sterile seed starting mix with no ferts. I had 5 plants with no curly cots.

5/24/2005 7:23:18 PM

[email protected]

Ditto the soiless mix. I make my own & never ever ever use ferts on the seedlings. Lot's of peroxide. Hand made media with no ferts. No curly cots.

5/24/2005 8:59:19 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

100% germination here... All water. Seeds soak for only 20
minutes or so while I'm preparing the pots. A little filing
of the edges, and......... HERE IS THE BIG SECRET! >>>>> HEAT!

Just get your seeds to 85 degrees. Use a thermometer to be
sure. If the seed isn't empty, it will germinate. All you guys
fooling around with peroxide, etc., I don't understand it.

5/25/2005 10:56:08 AM

Chico, Ca

I could care less what the cots look like... they are't around long enough to matter....

5/25/2005 11:16:08 AM

C N Y

AMEN, Kolb!
'long as that first true leaf pops up and looks proud,
the cots will look okay after a while.
i have a 689.5 Sandercock in the ground, my backup-turned-
better-than-the first-sprouted, and each of the seed leaves is like a giant soup-spoon. i wonder if it will make
a birdbath pumpkin? not very often is it that a pumpkin plant will look like it means business within the first three or four days, except the 845 Bobier....
makes a nice little "propeller" with its cotyledons...
always happy to see that! eric

5/25/2005 6:56:45 PM