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Syracuse, NY

i've been really slow to mention this, but
a few days ago i put about a teaspoon of SpeedSprout in one of the cool little ZipLoc packets that it originally comes in, and basically shoved 3 seeds in there along with it, from one of my own year 2002 pumpkins (350 est. Langevin X
706.5 Willemse), or Gerry 530 Est. '02.
well, i then put the packet face-down in my top desk drawer
and shut it, not intending to open it again except for an occasional checking-on. okay, three days (72 hours) and
there were sprouts coming out of the seeds, and it was
rush hour for me so i had no time to examine closely.
in the evening, though, i checked them out and they had definitely sprouted, all three of them, at an ambient temperature of no more than 70 degrees, room temperature.

the roots coming out of the seeds did not look like they were liking what they had sprouted into, being of a beige or light brown in color, but this stuff so far is not actually SUPPOSED to have things GROWING in it.
we'll work on it!

anyway, i put all three seeds into a pudding cup filled with appropriately-prepared seed-starting mix, and even the next DAY it was evident that one of the seeds was taking off, and shortly thereafter the other two have caught up, just like usual. so, i now have three seedlings from seeds of 2.5 years of age, and they were sprouted in SpeedSprout at about 70 degrees F., with NO special filing, soaking,
playing jazz music for, or anything else out of the ordinary. i just made sure the seeds' tips were in contact with, and basically surrounded with, Speed Sprout. moretocome. willreport.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>eric

3/2/2005 6:46:56 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

And don't forget, you can get 4 for $10 w/ free shipping @ http://www.PumpkinSupply.com

;-)

3/3/2005 12:27:57 AM

Syracuse, NY

well, at least it LOOKED like there was a response to my
success story....LOL!!!
that is a good deal, Matt!
when i run out i will look you up.

3/3/2005 12:48:10 AM

Syracuse, NY

she was a spee--ee-eed sproutah...
midnight planter, yeah...
it took me soo-oo-ooh long...to find out.
but i found out...

3/3/2005 12:49:59 AM

Indiana

Cant you get the same thing from regular old potting soil or seed starting mix?? or paper towels?? seems like alot of expense to start seeds.
Steve

3/5/2005 10:16:42 AM

Syracuse, NY

thus far, the silver lining has been that the seeds have not needed to be heated. it will undoubtedly take a while for it to catch on, but if it becomes evident that AG seeds can be sprouted without anything other than plain old room temperature, that could be very advantageous, since so much emphasis is placed on getting the seeds and soil to the
85 degrees we generally see as a necessity when sprouting.
i mean, three days, and i have sprouts. with no heating.
that's like, i don't know what. but it is really neat to me.
my SpeedSprouted seedlings are doing fine by the weigh....
and they were seeds from '02, about 2.5 years old, not fresh!

3/7/2005 7:15:32 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Eric, I have done numerous germination tests, and I have had a ton of positive results from just placing seeds into moist soil.
It will take a few days longer to germinate and emerge, but it works fine, just the way the big man upstairs intended.
I believe that Monty has been doing the same type of tests with the same results.
Not trying to knock the speedsprout, as I'm a big fan of using whatever it takes to get the job done.
Tom

3/7/2005 7:37:03 PM

Long Island,New York

Tom...I think Monty's were bigger.

3/7/2005 9:26:27 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

cool!

3/7/2005 9:43:48 PM

Syracuse, NY

yeah, i myself have been doing some tests also.
okay, the speedsprout one we are all familiar with.
my other idea had been brewing for a while but a grower friend has found that soaking the seeds in coffee before putting them to germinate may help them along.

so i went to bat with this idea:

....getting seeds to sprout in re-rinsed COFFEE GROUNDS. (the ones right from the maker at work were still too strong---the seeds germ'ed but didn't like what they were sprouting into)(so, i collected about a quart jar full of grounds, decaf and regular, put them into a gallon glass jar with half again of warm water, then poured them through some paper towels in a collander. the resulting mix was like pudding and lent itself easily to my intentions.)
then, i put three seeds, unaltered, into the 4"peat pot and into the Germ Buck. 96 hours and they sprouted, and at the moment at 5 days now, i just took the seed coats off of them, and we'll see how far they g(r)o(w) from there.
slow, but better than the first batch!

i have one out of two of my own seeds in coffee grounds also that is sprouting in 5 days now as well. at room temperature. the second seed has not yet shown a root. i think it will.
the last experiment is snipping off the end of the seed where the germination actually takes place, at the radicle
tip. CAREFULLY!!!! okay, an extra day, at 96 hours we'll say, but i have two nice seedlings that came up very strongly. at room temperature. 70 F* max. i am very impressed! i would THINK it is this very energetic seed o' mine, the 250.5 '04, but
that will be the next experiment, i guess, an older Gerry seed from '01 i think....later, y-all. eric

3/8/2005 2:27:50 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

That is awesome Eric, thanks for sharing.
Tom

3/8/2005 7:19:45 AM