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Waterloo, Nebraska

I have failed with all of my germination tests. I have tried on top of the water heater, on a computer monitor and in one of those little store bought plastic greenhouses with a light. I have tried sterilised soil, wet pater towels, wet coffee grounds and clear polymer growing media. I have gently filed the edges and soaked the seeds for varying amounts of times. The temperature is 82 degrees in the little greenhouse, and on my water heater. I am such a failure. I am running out of seeds. I have some seeds that I ordered from the Dill website, 3 seeds from a generous person in Omaha, and I ordered some from ebay. I have 2 Dills and 2 Omaha seeds left. The Ebay ones aren't here yet. I need help!!! I am afraid that I will run out of seeds before I get this germination thing mastered. I opened one failed Dill seeds. It was empty and stinky. But I know they all can't be duds. I must be doing something wrong. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. This is my first year trying this so my seed supply is very limited, and I have to get it right soon. My sugar pumpkin seeds are doing great, but my giants aren't.
Thanks,
Jody

3/29/2005 9:42:58 AM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

too wet!!!

Only moisten your seed stating mix once, before putting it into the pots and before sowing the seed.
Put the mix into a bowl and add just enough water that some drops (not more!!!) will come out of the mix when you press some of it in your hand.
Fill the mix into the pots, put in the seed and never water again until the plants are up.

Martin

3/29/2005 12:17:05 PM

Syracuse, NY

yeah, you seed starting mix should only be really as moist as, i hate to say it, but CAKE!
it doesn't drip if you were to squeeze it, and if it were too dry you would know it. also, you need a higher germination temperature. 85-90 degrees Farenheit....
go here, look at my diary:

http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=17063

i wanted you to see my 510.5. SWEET!!! click a few times forward and you''ll be at the Germ-Buck, i promise!
it is just a VERY effective weigh to sprout the Bigguns.

(at a seminar at which i showed this thing off to
about 40 people were really interested in it and i have
virtually NO seed loss with it; the Gerry Germ-Buck.)
good luck!!!! PS----if you get a DIGITAL thermometer,
you can have an exact reading on what your temperature is. a must!!! good luck-------eric

3/29/2005 7:40:04 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Jody
I have some seeds for you if you like. I'm in Canada though, maybe someone can offer you some seeds that will get there faster. I find it takes 2-3 weeks to get across the border from here. Send me your address and I'll get them out ASAP. Martin & Eric are right, too much water will make your seeds go mushy. After I soak them for 8-10 hrs, I put my seeds in a moist paper towel, then in a baggie and then put them in a cooler with bottles a hot water to keep them warm. You will have to change the water every 8 hrs to keep them warm enough (80-85 degrees). In about 3-4 days, you'll see them starting to put roots out. Thats the time to transplant them into your pots. Don't over water them. Good luck.

Phil

3/29/2005 7:59:14 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Grab a handful of that seed starting mix & squeeze it. Does water drip out? If so, it is too wet.

I mix equal parts (using a 1 quart pitcher) od fine milled sphagnum, vermiculite & perlite. This gets all mixed up in a bucket. The I slowly add another quart of warm water mixing by hand. Let it sit a while & squeeze a handful.

Even this *might* be a little too moist. If so, then add a few more handfuls of the same ratio mix until you almost think it's too dry.

Keep it at 85°F consistently for several days & the seeds WILL germinate if they are viable.

3/29/2005 10:56:30 PM

Follansbee, Wv

This may sound odd, but my 4 year old tests my mix for me. She takes a handful and squeezes it by her ear. I add water until she says it sounds "squeaky". If I squeeze it hard, I can see bubbles between my fingers, but no drips. It almost seems too dry, but I have 100% germination at room temprature. I soak the seeds in warm water for 4 hours, then stick them into the starting mix. Average germination time at room temp (approx. 72°-78°) is 4-5 days.

3/31/2005 7:22:42 AM

Knopp, Germany

Monty, can I rent your 4 year old?

3/31/2005 7:38:22 AM

Waterloo, Nebraska

That must be my problem. My youngest kid is 17 years old. Maybe I can borrow the neighbor's grandson!
Jody

3/31/2005 10:00:43 AM

Indiana

my procedure is very similar to yours Tremor, except I do it all in the wheelbarrow. I also soak for 15 minutes in a weak daconil solution.

Tom

3/31/2005 10:35:37 AM

Follansbee, Wv

Sorry Owen, Julia doesn't have a passport, and balked at the idea of being taped up in a box for FedEx. She is right though, it does have a squeaky sound. My seed mix recipe is in my diary.

3/31/2005 1:16:32 PM

Waterloo, Nebraska

Great news!!! One of my seeds finally started!! It was in a ziplock baggie on my water heater in a damp paper towel. It took 7 days, but I finally have something. I put it in dirt and have my fingers crossed. Hopefully, it will be able to pop up out of the dirt. With my luck, it will probaby take another week.
Jody

3/31/2005 2:39:17 PM

Canada

Honestly from the past 2 years of seed testing here is what I have found works best!!

Dont file, Specially if your not sure how.

I take my seeds drop them into a container of luke warm water put a paper towl over top of the seeds in the water this insures the entire seed gets wet, I let them sit in this container for roughly 5 hours. Then remove them from container and directly into some good store bought planting soil, dont over water this is the worst thing you can possibly due ( I learnt this last year) More importantly keep warm, not too warm but warm enough, I like to keep the temps between 65-70 i found these temps work best, maybe not as well at 80-85 but honestly i found those temps a bit high for my likeing. the soil i buy from the store is a seed starting mixture thats already damp when you open the back. its rich black and damp enough just to place the seeds 1" under the soil.. Everyone has there ways. i'm still trying new ways for quicker germination but heck as long as they pop out of ground even if it takes 5-6 days i'm still ok with that. Good luck take care

Dave

4/4/2005 8:30:32 PM

Atlanta, Georgia

Last year or the year before I started about 24 seeds in peat pots and kept them at about 75 degrees. I thought that they were all dead after about 5 days but eventually they started to sprout and some even took up to 15 days but they all eventually came up.

All I'm trying to say is test your own method completely before giving up on it, and if it works, keep using it.
Best of luck,
Michel

4/5/2005 4:08:00 AM