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Missoula, Montana

So I just went ot grab a couple seeds from my pumpkin I grew this fall to send to the Netherlands and there was a fair amount of a dry, powdery mold (like on old bread) in the bag and on the seeds. I thought the seeds were dried out well but obviously not. They are dry to the touch and the little skins were flaking off. They dried for 2 or 3 weeks but anywho....are these seeds hosed. I just dumped a bunch of captan on them and shook them up real good and they are laying out on a cookie tin. What else can I do?
I just went and cracked a few open and can't tell if they are bad or good. I cracked a few known good ones from years past and they all look pretty much the same.

1/12/2006 10:55:42 PM

Eugene,OR

Try to germinate one and see what happens.

1/12/2006 11:32:53 PM

Syracuse, NY

be sure to note on the packets that there is FUNGICIDE
on them so no one gets some bad medicine through their skin!
i myself physically inspect every seed i ever get;
i am sure others do as well. if you squeeze a seed half as hard as you can and it doesn't snap open or feel like it is expelling air from it, it should be good. just do not squeeze it too hard. you can also, and i highly recommend you get one, use a laser pointer to try and shine it through the seed under a darkened desk area---just do not
accidentally shine it toward your eyes--if it is at LEAST 1/3 full, it should be okay, even if this doesn't answer your question. yeah, sprout 'em! 'pal2

1/13/2006 12:47:25 AM

Montoursville, PA

H'mmmmmmmmmmmmmm learned a new trick here today. Lazer pointer. Good show! Now I wonder what black light might show us. I have one somewhere if I can find it.

I like this sort of discovery but the bottom line is still so simple. Germinate one, in four days and prove them, for sure.

1/13/2006 4:59:41 AM

Mulino, Oregon

try soaking them in a 1% bleach solution for about 5 minutes. Rinse them off thoroughly and then redry them. Throw out any of them that had cracks in the shell.

1/13/2006 9:10:38 AM