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Missoula, Montana

I have the seeds from my pumpkin from last year and they are doing nada. All my other seeds have germinated fine. I have soaked them, filed them, removed the seeds coats partially on some, all on others, I have even put some directly into potting mix. They are all on a germination mat that has worked fine in the past ( and has worked fine for the other seeds this spring). Do they ever just not germinate. They appear to be sound. When I open up a few they look normal on the inside? Looking for suggestions.....

4/20/2006 2:16:19 PM

Missoula, Montana

Forgot to mention, I have tried to germinate about 20 seeds now w/o luck. The problem seems to be this specific pumpkin, the others germinate just fine....

4/20/2006 2:17:37 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

How did you dry them? Sometimes excessive heat makes the seeds no longer viable.

4/20/2006 2:44:31 PM

Missoula, Montana

Shannon-
They were air dried (fan )on a piece of window screen, down in my basement, in the dark, no heat really used at all....

4/20/2006 2:51:52 PM

San Luis Obispo, Ca.

yup!

4/20/2006 5:30:03 PM

how old was the pumpkin theses seeds are from could be immature

4/20/2006 5:41:33 PM

Cincinnati,OH

I had the same problem a couple of years ago. Turned out that my starting mix was too wet. My larger seeds started with no problems but small seeds from genetic crosses would not sprout until I replanted them in a mix that felt just a little damp. Make sure the mix is not moist or wet.

4/20/2006 7:25:06 PM

[email protected]

Did the seeds that "germinated fine" sit right next to the seeds that failed? I am also thinking that a moisture or temperature issue is at fault since solid well formed seeds are usually viable.

4/21/2006 7:54:54 AM

Missoula, Montana

The seeds are not old, they are from last years pumpkin. Yes, they were in the same plastic baggy that did have seeds germinate. The pumpkin was over 80 days old...

4/21/2006 10:13:10 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

hmmm did the seeds when you took them out of the pumpkin have any already germinated? If so the germination process may have already kicked in before you dried them out.

4/21/2006 10:44:56 AM

Missoula, Montana

nope.....they were all solid. I had that happen with my first pumpkin 3 years ago but nada since...Thanks for helping!

4/21/2006 11:11:16 AM

Montoursville, PA

What was the germination rate as you put them into storage? Did you run an early Spring germination test? If so was the germination rate satisfactory at that time? At any point did you try the age old method, of simply putting a seed, in a dry damp pot at 80-85 degrees and just stepping back?

4/23/2006 9:34:17 PM

Montoursville, PA

Sorry I missed a line.
The most often observed, by me error, is not enough heat and to much water, in the starting medium.

4/23/2006 9:37:46 PM

Missoula, Montana

Update....
I tried a couple things "new to me". I always file and soak the seeds and put them in a zip lock bag with a moist paper towel on a heat mat. But then I tried putting them BETWEEN moist paper towels in a zip lock on a heating pad and actually got a couple to germinate this way, I believe that by having them just lay on the paper towel they were not moist enough. I also put a few directly into potting soil and was able to get them to germinate that way. I just needed to not be so hung up on the only method I was famliar with and try something new. Thanks for your help every one.

4/24/2006 10:45:35 AM