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Location

Message

Date Posted

Omaha, Nebraska

While washing off the seeds I harvested today I noticed that some sink and some float. Has anyone noticed any difference between the sinkers and the floaters? e.g. A difference in how easy it is to get them to germinate, etc.?

10/28/2017 3:38:55 PM

Fenton, MI

I have seen that a lot over the years and I don't think there is a difference in them. But let's see what some the other growers say. The more melons heads the better.

10/28/2017 8:15:40 PM

Bethlehem CT

I have never done germination tests on the two, My guess is the floaters will germinate poorly as they have smaller cotyledons and thinner seed coats.

10/29/2017 7:54:40 AM

Bethlehem CT

I still have some melons, maybe I will cut one open dry out the seeds and do a germination test. faeldaz maybe you could do a germination test on yours? We will compare results.

10/29/2017 7:56:39 AM

Omaha, Nebraska

I kept them separate in case there was a difference and considered running a test of 10 from each group. I got lots of floaters and only about 95 sinkers. I didn't want to bother if it turned out it was common knowledge there was / wasn't a difference.

10/29/2017 8:32:41 PM

central Nc

I'm new to the AG game, but a longtime gardener. It's generally good seed saving practice to discard the floaters as they are usually immature. That being said, I've germinated plenty of floaters, albeit with decreased vigor -- in tomatoes and cucumbers. I usually never have more than 10% floaters, so I generally toss em.

10/30/2017 4:36:11 PM

central Nc

In my mind its like trying to train a premature baby to become linebacker.

10/30/2017 4:39:47 PM

East Tennessee

Chris if u have any 302 floaters i would be glad to test em fot u

10/30/2017 4:46:58 PM

Bethlehem CT

In my experience it seems Carolina Cross and Black diamond produce more floaters than the eating types I grow.

10/30/2017 5:48:35 PM

sevierville, Tn

Sorry Jeremy, all the 302's are heavy so they sink ! LOL

10/30/2017 6:10:22 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

Here's the experiment and the results. 10 floaters and 10 sinkers from the same melon. No soaking, filing, or clipping to avoid small differences in the method. Paper towel method on a germination pad. Within 2 days 4 floaters and 3 sinkers germinated. Within a week 2 more floaters and 5 more sinkers germinated, so 6 floaters and 8 sinkers total. Not a huge difference, and with "small number statistics" those would count as pretty much identical results. (i.e. within the uncertainty of the measurements)

12/7/2017 3:08:21 PM