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Connecticut

its been 8 days since i planted the 220,anyone else having difficulties germing this seed?thanks!!!!!!!!

4/28/2014 11:40:46 AM

Central Minnesota

How well did you sand the edges? You may have to carefully dig it up and help it out of its shell if you didn't do a good job sanding. The 2009, 220 and 1734 which are all related have very thick seed coats and require good sanding to germinate. 8 days is to long

4/28/2014 2:23:58 PM

Mine had some issues as well, didn't sprout, everything else did. I was really disappointed, had big plans for that seed.

4/29/2014 10:11:06 AM

Washington Co. Va.

i am tryimg a 220 selfed seed first round did not do eather 2 round cooking what is up with this seeed ??????

4/29/2014 5:39:26 PM

Springfield, Missouri

I got both of mine to germinate. Seed sterilization is very important for weak seeds. The longer they take to germinate the more time they have to rot.

Removing the seed coat after a day, GA3, and light exposure can all jump start germination. If you use GA3 2-20 ppm should be adequate. If you expose the seeds to light make sure the radical is covered by steralized soil, and put a plastic bag over the pot to hold in moisture.

4/29/2014 6:29:54 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Mine rotted.

4/30/2014 6:55:38 PM

Polson, Montana

Mine has not germinated; took it to my nursery to put in her germination chamber and nothing. Oh well!!! Daggnabbitt!!!

4/30/2014 9:22:43 PM

Rhode Island

not knowing how every grower germinates their seeds all i would like to offer is this.

the manner in which we germinate seeds is very important-to include ---

proper seed prep (sanding and/or soaking)depending on seed type.thick seed shells can take more sanding on edges than thin ones---same with soaking. thin shells can not take a lot of soaking (no more than one hr)

constant steady 85-90 degrees of heat (use of good seed starting medium -not potting soil)-- no window sills,etc.

keeping the planting medium moist but never saturated -seed can rot when to wet. a mistake many new growers make is to over water seed starter mix.

pap

5/1/2014 10:59:00 AM

Princeville, IL

Still waiting on my 220.3 to germinate. Been in the germinating chamber 8 days now but have heard of one that took 11 so still hoping it pops. Had 38 out of 38 other seeds that germinated under the same conditions and treatment. I did not file the edges on any of the seeds so feel that was my big mistake with the 220. I have a commercial germinating chamber available that I am using so conditions should be ideal. Keeping my fingers crossed.

5/1/2014 1:10:42 PM

Slate River,Ont. Canada

Everything pap says is correct!(Of course)
One thing that I do abit different is after filing and soaking is I wrap in damp paper towel into a zip lock bag then into heat box which is content 85f.
I started 1192 warner yesterday and in less than 24 hours seed is already cracking and root is starting to show.
I find this way better because I can see what is happening with the seed and not digging through dirt to see progress.
Now that seed is started lay sideways in dirt cover ,but mistake I often still make burrying too deep.Lost 1451 Hain
this way.
Best of luck!

5/1/2014 1:21:50 PM

Central Minnesota

Even doing all things correct you will not get all the 220's to germinate. They are a tough seed with a tough seed coat. Your odds are better if you sand the entire seed though, they don't want to absorb water very well with that waxy seed coat it seems.

5/1/2014 1:28:07 PM

New England

soaking and then placing in wet paper towel and then to a warm place for 24 hours has worked well for me the last 2 yrs.

5/1/2014 1:45:02 PM

Muddy Waters

I lost both my 220s and was 100% on all other kins & green squash.I wish I would have known about the sanding.SnowBacco is just a vision now.:(----<

5/1/2014 6:03:26 PM

Austin MN

I lost both mine as well :/ didn't have good potting media

5/1/2014 6:50:23 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I'm still waiting for 10 days. A couple days ago I scraped off the seed coat, been keeping temp at 88. Still no sign of a root or rotting. I guess I just wait longer, nothing to lose.

5/1/2014 10:25:49 PM

Butler,PA

After 12 days and no germination, Thursday, I carefully dug up the 220.3 seed, and to my surprise, it was still solid with a root about 1/8 inch long. I re-sanded the edges, wrapped it up in a warm, wet paper towel and placed it in a ziplock baggie. I put the seed in my plastic mini greenhouse with a grow light and temperature set at 85 degrees. I have my fingers, toes and eyes crossed. Hopefully, Saturday, I will be able to replant the seed.

5/2/2014 2:37:37 PM

Nottingham, UK

One of my own (766) has proved to be very difficult to germinate. They are brown seed. After day four I removed them both and gently picked off the brown coating off both sides of one of them with my finger nail to reveal what looked like as normal white seed coat. Both went back in and the one with the brown coat removed germinated the next day.

Seems that some have an extra layer that retards germination. I'm guessing the 220 is not brown and my 2 cents worth is of no help.

5/2/2014 5:08:48 PM

Butler,PA

I unwrapped the 220.3 Saturday--still nothing. It's back in the paper towel, back in the ziplock and back in the mini greenhouse. Dandytown, it's not a brown seed. The seed has not rotted. I'll give it a few more days. Does anyone think I should crack the seed open completely? More sanding? Open for suggestions......

5/4/2014 4:27:41 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I finally opened the shell on the Snowball and found the problem. It had only been about half full, so it was low on stored energy to bust out. And the rest had rotted. But I have a seed that is from a selfed Snowball and another that is a Snowball crossed with at 2009, and both germinated just fine.

5/4/2014 10:24:13 PM

Putnam Ct.

Stawecki , I germinated mine in an incubator at 87 degrees . Try to raise the heat a bit? Not sure if it will help but worth a try.

5/4/2014 10:27:33 PM

England, essex

if there still solid after X many days, I re-file them.
they tend to pop real quick ;-)

5/5/2014 4:32:20 AM

Fairfield, CT, 06825

Sorry Roger, sounds like a No-Go. You still have a nice potential line-up to work with.

Good Luck

5/5/2014 11:30:51 PM

Indiana

I think everyone makes this seed germination thing way to complicated. I'm 100% on about 40 seeds so far this year. Usually go 97% or higher every year with our method.

2 drop Daconil/chlorothalonil in a few ounces of water. 60 minute soak. Then to the paper towel or potting mix. No sanding. No heat. Keep at room temp. 70-71 degrees here.

Germination in 2 days and enjoy.

What everyone screws up is having them to wet. The paper towel should be wrung out pretty well. Plastic bag should be closed but not sealed. If going to potting mix. no more than 2-3 ounces of water in a 16 ounce cup. Do not water until plan is up. Once plant is up, put it in the ground.

5/6/2014 5:50:30 PM