[MoreWhisky]

I seem to be having trouble germinating my Hooligan,Crown prince and Festival squashes.

I cant understand why  everything else has germinated lovely. Have tried different composts to, and so far have 1 hooligan 

Any other  Squash lover  out there who can give me a tip or two please 

Cheers MW.

[ziggy66]

Can I add a me too.....

I have had only a 25% record with my hawk squashes. Courgettes seem to have worked a treat but my squashes have been a struggle.

Thanks

[mumofstig]

I've had good germination,except for an acorn squash but they have been so slow this year.
But for me, as it was just one variety out of 11 I'm blaming poor seed quality for that failure

[8doubles]

Are you keeping them nice and warm , i put a seed tray in a plastic bag on top of a kitchen wall unit and they were up 50mm in 6 days.

[strangerachael]

I have had the same problem with butternuts. All the other squashes came up no problem, but none of the four butternuts appeared. I put the rest of the packet to chit, which they did eventually, but still only one of the chitted seeds I sowed has appeared. Very odd... there were no problems last year.

[Runwell-Steve]

I planted my Butternuts, (last yers Dig In seeds) on Saturday in 3 inch pots inside an unheated propogator which I put on a shelf in my office.  This morning nearly every single one has just started showing.

What I have learnt this year if it's of any help is.

Not too hot at any time
Not too cold at any time
Not too wet.

Now I germinate all seeds indoors on top of a cupnoard in my office, and do not soak the compost as I did last year as they were all rottig before germinating.

[compostqueen]

they might like a bit of bottom heat (prop without a lid)

[8doubles]

Every squash seed i have sown this year has grown. A packet of patti-pan from a seed swap that was 2 yrs past use by date all grew , b-nuts planted 2 seeds per pot all grew and were thinned and composted.

I wish i could get the same germination rates with spring onions.

[lmpd]

none of my squashes germinated ( plastic bagged and in a greenhouse)which i put down to old seed, went and bought some fresh and still nothing

[Salmo]

I have noticed on several occasions that squash grown alongside cougettes and pumpkins need more heat to get them started.

[Maccbean]

My unknown butternut squash seeds were planted in compost, put in a propagator on my windowsill in my kitchen (kept warm by an Aga). I was shocked to see that this is what they looked like after a week!  Just have to hope that they fruit now

[mumofstig]

none of my squashes germinated ( plastic bagged and in a greenhouse)which i put down to old seed, went and bought some fresh and still nothing

It's still too cold out in the greenhouse for them to germinate Start some more inside on a warm windowledge 

[Siouxfly]

Don't give up on them mines have taken weeks and are only just showing now. I hadn't given them any heat so last week I popped them in a poly bag blew it up and tied it off and now they are through. Thank goodness as I don't have any more seeds left. I only got 10 in the packet.

[diggerjoe]

Gave most of mine a short holiday in the kitchen to kick start them and then they've been in a cold green house and growing on well. I missed a couple and thoses two have been in cold greenhouse since sowing and look to be really sturdy plants. Now if i could just get my brassicas to last beyond first leaf I would be very happy

[Trebor]

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.