From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Owensboro, Ky.

Novice grower from W. Ky. Very thankful for plethera of info available on this site. Just finished reading Tom's (Bohica) diary and he talked about soaking seeds in a 530 ppm solution. 530 ppm of what? Also would like opinions of all, do you, and if you do, what solution and for how long do you soak your seeds? Giving your step by step seed starting procedure would (or could) be very helpful for some of us newB's. Once again, all of your help and suggestions are gratefully appreciated.

Peace

Wayne

3/5/2005 1:54:22 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Wayne, that was a test of GA3, Gibberellic Acid, a growth hormone.
Normally, I just file the seeds and:
soak in water for 4 hrs and either put in moist paper towel in a ziploc bag on my monitor or cable box for warmth,
OR-
after soaking place directly in soil with mycorrhiza fungi, that I've had warming on a heat propagation mat, covered with plastic wrap to keep in moisture.
Normally I get germination in anywhere from 24 -48 hrs, and the plants emerge from the soil with 3 or 4 days.
Tom

3/5/2005 2:13:46 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

Wayne,

Tom tried the GA3 because it can help to germinate older seeds more reliable. Let's say you have a 801.5 Stelts seed from 1997 or an even older seed that you definitely want to germinate.
In these cases the GA3 might help. It is not necessary when germinating newer seeds, though.
Last year I germinated a 1997 seed without any growth hormones so, even here it was not necessary.
But if I have the GA3 available and further tests are successful I will use it this year on my older seeds.

Martin

3/5/2005 3:58:25 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

500 PPM is a little low. 750-1000 PPM is about right.

3/5/2005 4:46:04 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

500 worked fine this time, I will increase the dosage when i get my next batch of older seeds.
Tom

3/5/2005 5:56:33 PM

very nice tom

3/5/2005 6:26:50 PM