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South Dakota

Last Tue 3/9, I planted my seeds into 50 mm Jiffy plugs and put them on a germination mat. On Wed AM, I moved them into an egg incubator at 90 degrees. Still nothing, so yesterday I upped the heat to 100 degrees. Six days today, do you think they will still pop? 2016 and 2017 seeds that were given to me from another grower, don't know how they were stored. I did not file nor soak the seeds, just put them into the jiffy plugs right out of the pack. New to watermelons but going to give it one hell of a try. Got some different seeds coming in case these all turn out to be duds. How long should I wait before I dig one up to see whats going on?

3/15/2021 4:31:57 PM

Bethlehem CT

I would dig one up now. I check mine whenever I feel curious. I plant mine horizontally so I just have to be careful not to really touch the seed tip. It curls down, so as long as you are just removing a little bit of soil at a time. You will not damage it if it is starting to emerge. Melons are notorious for being tough to germinate. Some seeds from certain melons just germinate like crap. For example seeds from my 187,179 and 203 in 2019 all germinated around ten percent for me. (most are not typically that poor). My best advice is to give them the same care as your Atlantic Giants. They will germinate for you.(I don't file or soak and I germinate mine in a greenhouse so the temperature fluctuates like it would in nature. My Temps go from the high 60's low 70's at night to high 80's approaching 90 in the day. A week is a bit long at those high temps, you mentioned but it is possible that a few could still germinate, my guess is that they rotted. Plenty of time to put in another batch.

3/15/2021 6:20:22 PM

Bethlehem CT

On a side note I planted two 146.5 Youngs last week around the same date as you. Nothing has sprouted yet. (all my other ones are up and doing great). I figured that they were done, but I checked today and one is sprouting! It is always a nice feeling.

3/15/2021 6:21:51 PM

South Dakota

I carefully dug down on one of my 318.5 Kent seeds and found that it has germinated and has a tap root about 2 inches long. I carefully repotted it. I think I planted too deep perhaps. I just took the seeds and poked them, point down into the bottom of the holes in the top of the jiffy plug and filled the hole with coir. What I see happened is the radical came out and made the hypocotyl arch, but it's trying to push the seed out with the wide top pointing up. Usually the hypocotyl arch pulls the seed out point end up and sheds the seed coat as it emerges. I am going to carefully dig some of the top of the jiffy plug out to maybe help it to the surface. May have to help them off with their coats.

3/15/2021 7:10:41 PM

Bethlehem CT

Glad to hear they are coming up.

3/16/2021 1:31:13 PM

South Dakota

Four have reached the surface. Two still had seed coats attached, and I pulled its head off trying to help, so I just put the other one back into the incubator hoping the high humidity will soften the seed coat.

3/16/2021 5:22:46 PM

Bethlehem CT

That is the one disadvantage of planting point down, you often have to manually remove the seed coat. However, it does produce nicer stockier looking seedlings with shorter hypocotyls. I am grafting so I don't really care how stretched the seedling is.

3/16/2021 6:05:26 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

When I did testing with pumpkins lying the seed flat worked a lot better to remove the seed coat. Also if I planted them a little deeper would get me 100 percent.

3/16/2021 10:27:29 PM

Hawesville, ky

Lay them flat 1/4" deep. Soil should be just damp and i prefer 88 degrees. Usually does good job and seed coats are off when they emerge. Hope this helps

5/4/2021 8:02:44 AM