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Rochester, Minnesota

Giant watermelons seems to have a difficult time germinating, well at least they do for me. I get around it by throwing lots of seeds at the problem, and generally get all the plants I want. But what do you do if you do not have lots of seeds?

What are people doing to improve germination for giant watermelons?

Inquiring minds want to know.

10/18/2007 9:32:26 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

I am working on a germination experiment with pumpkins. I want to grow watermelons next year. I just dont have any seeds. If you have a bunch of seeds (nothing great of course because they will only be used for testing) I can use to try my set of steps for germination, send them my way and I will let you know what rate of germination I get.

Also, if you have a couple decent seeds that you dont mind throwing my way, I still have yet to acquire any melon seeds, and I will be growing 2 plants next year.

Anything you can spare is much appreciated.

10/18/2007 10:02:19 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

You had previously said that I could send you a bubble (a couple posts down in this board), so I guess I already know the answer to the question about a couple decent seeds. As for the testing seeds, like I said, if you can manage then I will test my steps and see how they work. I will put some extra postage on the bubble to accomodate the test seeds in case.

Thanks

10/18/2007 10:14:27 AM

Robbins, Tn

here is my find for this years germination project...an old water bed heater...this was a great idea for me because it solved a couple of what ifs and how do i problems before they got started...i used the heater inside an old thermos cooler..set thermostat to 80 degrees..placed seeds in peat buttons (expanded of course) and had good ratio of successful germinations...i had had a couple of failed attempts at watermelons that i threw in just to try and they even made it...pumpkins went nine for ten....pretty good for a second year person..it actually kind of shocked me that it worked so well...later transfered seedlings to aquarium set up outside with same heater...not knowing at the time that i eventually broke the bottom glass...oh well, live and learn, right? the heaters are fairly inexpensive..check second hand merchandise stores (Salvation Army and like) and yard sales...picked up one at yard sale for 25 cents...hope this helps...worked fine for me.(after coming up idea....lol) good luck......Joe S.

10/18/2007 11:17:43 AM

Robbins, Tn

lol...probably should read before sending reply...the failed attempts at watermelons were before the heater..the heater came about as getting disgusted with a couple of different timed seed starting attempts..at least the year i should be able to get into ground with a watermelon at a decent time....Grow 'em Big in '08...Joe

10/18/2007 11:22:53 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

Jordan,

I still have a 160 in the garage that I will harvest all the seeds from, so you can do an experiment. But realistically it might just be a bad watermelon for germination.

Of course I will make seeds available to you.

10/18/2007 11:38:03 AM

West Amwell, NJ

When I have seeds that are tough to germinate, such as teosinte, I use hydrogen peroxide. Most seeds will germinate within days when using hydrogen peroxide.

10/18/2007 11:53:14 AM

Carrollton, Ga.

i do them just like my pumpkin seeds. i soak them 4 to 8 hours. put in damp paper towel and zip lock bag. put them somewhere it is 85 degrees. i have had good sucess this way. i did not sand the edges.
doug
jn. 3:16

10/18/2007 12:23:05 PM

Franklinton, Louisiana

Hi ,I have been growing Carolina Cross for about 20 years and they are hard to germinate,some of my tips and tricks are the scarification with sandpaper or a knife an seed edges,soaking,but in the last few years after alot of trial and error I built a germination box out of plexaglass,installed an egg incubator thermostat that keeps the temp. within a plus or minus one degree of setpoint,which is 94 degrees constant,use Micracle Gro potting mix,pre-heat 24 hours to planting seed,have soil moist (not wet),plant seed on its side,not flat,about 1/2inch deep,planting on the seeds side will help remove seed hull as seed sprouts,as soon as see soil rising as seed starts to sprout(about the third to fourth day)remove that particular cup out of germination box to gro lights and cooler temp.(50 to 60 degrees)Cooler temp and plent of light will keep them from growing tall and leggy.Even at this germination still is only 50 to75% at best,always plant more than you need,then cull to the best plants.I have been doing this a long time and my best melon is a 194# and I try harder each and every year.Good Luck!! La. Melonking

10/21/2007 7:54:31 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

I now know my problem. I don't live in a town that ends in "ton". Franklinton, Carrollton, Beaverton, Rivington (just kidding). So to improve germination, I will start a campaign to change the name of my town to Rochesterton Minnesota. That should get my rates up.

Thanks for all the good information.

10/22/2007 9:24:50 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

I got the watermelon seeds from Minnesota Melon Man and I tried the germination steps I use for AG. They worked perfectly. I have 5/5 germinate in 48 hours or less. I also did the same test for long gourds with the same results. Again keep in mind the 10% hydrogen peroxide that is used for the soaking fluid (with 90% water) is not pure, its 3%. So that is an important thing to mention. 10% pure hp would mess the seeds up bad.

I put the germinated seeds in pots, will update when they break the surface.

If you want to see my tutorial, it is available at the following address:

http://anubis.pointclark.net/germination/index.html

11/11/2007 8:34:39 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

So you use that same technique. I hope the wife doesn't mind that I am going to snatch her heating pad. I plan to try this with some other seeds that are relative hard to germinate also.

Thanks for the write up Jordan. That was great information.

11/12/2007 2:19:52 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

No problem. The only difference was that getting the edges sanded all around was a little difficult. I just got as much on each side as I could sanded, to help the water penetrate.

11/12/2007 8:28:06 PM

Sage, Arkansas

Great information. The 4kids and I will be using this information. We can't hardly wait to get the melons in the ground.....

4kids

11/12/2007 8:32:17 PM

Williamsburg,KY

Jordon, I wanted to read you tutorial, but its not available..can you help me out..

2/9/2008 9:36:01 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Croley Bend, here is the link: did the watermelon the same way . Just be careful when sanding the edges.

http://gvgo.ca/articles/rivington_germ_tut01.html

2/10/2008 3:02:17 PM

Williamsburg,KY

Thanks Jordan, will take a look and learn..

2/23/2008 9:17:07 AM