From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Edmonton, Canada

I'm wondering how many growers file their seed, how many use the advanced seed starting method, and how many do neither.

3/20/2002 10:15:46 AM

Ankeny, Iowa

I file my seeds and it works pretty well. I have not tried the advanced method yet.but I might sometime.

3/20/2002 3:59:43 PM

Midway City, California

Just filing for me.

3/20/2002 4:26:39 PM

Ga.

neither,,I'm 3 for 3...

3/20/2002 5:21:44 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

last week i filed two seeds they spouted in less then 19hrs.in the past i just planted the seed in pea pot and waited and waited.i like this method better

3/20/2002 5:23:02 PM

Eagan,Minnesota

This year i will file the seeds and take the embrio out and put it in a Bounty paper towle....Put it in a zip lock!
Chris

3/20/2002 7:26:19 PM

Webster, NY

I experimented with both this winter. They both work fine, the advanced works faster, but the filing is safer.

3/20/2002 8:36:53 PM

Deer Park WA

I personally like to softly file the edges with 220 grit sand paper, slowly working my way around to the tip. Then I like to mix a warm solution of liquid Kelp, Leonardite, and mineral water in which I slip the little beauties into for 12 to 18 hours of enrichment. In the morning I kick them to the seed beds, and hope they propigate.......

3/20/2002 10:15:49 PM

Amherst, WI

So far, I've been using the "neither" method. This year I will try filing and the advanced, practicing on some seeds before it's time to plant the good seeds.

3/20/2002 10:16:07 PM

Deer Park WA

I have thought about this "advanced " method alot, does anyone think that this "no effort" birth will allow it to cope with the realitys of existance?

3/20/2002 11:13:39 PM

Puyallup, WA

What are you trying to tell us, Gerry? No pain, no gain?

3/20/2002 11:49:18 PM

Deer Park, WI

Gads- This "no effort" birth as you called it produced both my 705 and 798 fruit. The 705 fruit split on 8/23, and was on track for 950+. The 798 plant was the darkest green and most managable plant i ever had. All you are doing by taking off the seed coat is speeding up the delivery of water to the embryo. Let me ask you this- are cesarian section children at any less of a disadvantage in life than natural birth children? Perhaps not the best comparison but its along the same lines.

I probably do not even have to state that I will be using my method at this point.

3/21/2002 9:01:55 AM

Long Island,New York

Both my daughters were ceasarian births.. there's no difference at all, except maybe that when they leave the house they like to go out through the window.........G

3/21/2002 10:14:27 PM

Tipp City, Ohio

My wife had one natural and our twins were both breech so they were C-section. No difference as far as the kids go but my wife was in a lot of pain from the C-section. So it just meant a little more work for me in the first week. No biggie.

As far as the advanced seed starting goes I experimented with it, with a few seeds from last year. 19 of 19 grew. filing just 8 of 20. Maybe I did something wrong with the filing. I will be doing the advanced seed starting on my Giants but for the rest of pumpkins (one acre) I will be direct seeding....Tom

3/22/2002 1:29:20 PM

syracuse, ny

i think our main concern with seed-starting methods is the time spent waiting for the magic moment......when you can see from 7 feet away and closing that you've done the right thing, and they have come up since your last observation...
the more quickly they sprout, the sooner soil-borne fungus
and rot become not a problem--lately i've been experimenting
with snipping the test seed all the way around except for the radicle end with a pair of TOENAIL clippers-just clipping away enough to expose the 'real seed cavity'--the halves of the seed coat remain in the soil or are very easily removed if they come up at all, and the green sheath-like material stays with them, not preventing the seed leaves from opening.....my first post....hope it helps.....

3/22/2002 8:23:40 PM

Deer Park WA

Welcome abord pumpkinpal! Sounds like you have been at this awhile. I have to agree, whatever method gets the giants started is ok. I was just curious if the advanced method caused the plants to be more suseptible to the hardships of the garden. I think that the dissucion of c-section type birth is a very poor comparison, but whatever. Best of luck to you all in 02.

3/23/2002 2:09:29 AM

Garden Grove CA.

Playing it safe filing for me

4/2/2002 8:08:47 PM