Germinating Squashes Help

Paul Plots · « **Reply #15 on:** May 07, 2010, 15:47 »

Quote from: Trebor on May 07, 2010, 15:31

I germinate them in a propagator in the airing cupboard. The key is to make sure the compost is not too wet or they rot and to take them out as soon as they break through otherwise they get leggy. Put them on the windowsill or cold greenhouse after that. I grow dozens of varieties (old and new seed) and only the overly wet ones have failed.

Overly wet!! Now that's most likely to be a problem.

I stuck mine in paper pots and into an unheated greenhouse that gets very warm during the day and holds a fair heat at night as it's on a high wall - acts like a thermal store. I intended taking them indoors at night - forgot .... 90% germination and old seeds too

Trillium · « **Reply #16 on:** May 07, 2010, 15:56 »

One trick with squashes and cucurbits is to plant the seeds on their sides. And being mostly tropical plants, they prefer warm, not overly wet conditions for germinating.
It's also possible that seed crops were poor last year so plant lots more than you normally would and the odds should be in your favour.

ziggy66 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 07, 2010, 19:51 »

Quote from: Trebor on May 07, 2010, 15:31

I germinate them in a propagator in the airing cupboard. The key is to make sure the compost is not too wet or they rot and to take them out as soon as they break through otherwise they get leggy. Put them on the windowsill or cold greenhouse after that. I grow dozens of varieties (old and new seed) and only the overly wet ones have failed.

Too wet, hmmmm must be it.

Next year one year older, one year wiser thanks all

realfood · « **Reply #18 on:** May 07, 2010, 19:53 »

I sowed about 20 different varieties of squash on Sunday, and most of them have already germinated. They are in a heated propagator, with the seeds just pushed into the moist compost, with the pointed end down till they are level with the surface. Easy, even with some of the seed several years old.

pink aubergine · « **Reply #19 on:** May 07, 2010, 19:58 »

First lot failed, second lot have all come up, from same packet of seed, in same compost, in same conditions - bottom heat and grow light. So who knows? I dont!

PennyS · « **Reply #20 on:** May 07, 2010, 22:26 »

I sowed all my courgettes, squashes, pumpkins, cues at the weekend in a heated propagator. Most varieties (Crown Prince was 100%) have had complete success already. I ran out of space though so the butternut squashes on the other hand, are in a pot in a plastic bag just on the windowsill and so far nothing. I'll bung them in the propagator and move the others on to the windowsill tomorrow and see what happens.

I always start mine off in a heated propagator and normally get really good results.

Hope this helps.

Paul Plots · « **Reply #21 on:** May 08, 2010, 19:00 »

Quote from: pink aubergine on May 07, 2010, 19:58

First lot failed, second lot have all come up, from same packet of seed, in same compost, in same conditions - bottom heat and grow light. So who knows? I dont!

That's' the wonder of nature ..... when it works in your favour it's a real buzz

Keep at it - odds are you'll win eventually

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Germinating Squashes Help

Paul Plots

Re: Germinating Squashes Help

Trillium

Re: Germinating Squashes Help

ziggy66

Re: Germinating Squashes Help

realfood

Re: Germinating Squashes Help

pink aubergine

Re: Germinating Squashes Help

PennyS

Re: Germinating Squashes Help

Paul Plots

Re: Germinating Squashes Help

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