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Location

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Santa Cruz, CA

How much do you file your seeds before soaking? We tried filing some practice seeds and found if we filed too deep we saw green around the edges. Did we go too far?

1/18/2006 1:57:27 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Kristine

Yes you went to far. When you start to file the edge of the seed it will start off a little whiter in colour than the seed. Keep going until you see a thin tan line in the middle of the whiter part. That will be deep enough. I hope this makes sense.

Phil

1/18/2006 6:22:02 AM

Indiana

I agree with copper but i file thru to the green (lightly in one spot) to make sure moisture it able to get into the seed. Stay away from the pointy end of the seed when filing.

1/18/2006 8:21:24 AM

Santa Cruz, CA

We've decided to experiment with twelve seeds. 3 we heavily sanded and pealed a bit of the rounded side of the seed off. (on all the seeds we stayed away from the pointed side of the seed) 3 other seeds were sanded until we saw a green stripe on the side. 3 more just lightly sanded taking only the shiney coat off and 3 we did nothing. We have them going in three different germination places too. One set is in the oven uncovered (85 degrees), another set is on an electric seed starting mat uncovered (also around 85 degrees) and the third set is uncovered in the cooler with a gallon of hot water at 115 degrees. The water is changed twice a day. We'll keep you posted as to what seed and what sprouting method does better for us. We had our whole family bet on what method does best and what seed will come up first. Any other bets out there?

1/18/2006 11:12:49 AM

Knopp, Germany

i like the oven idea! personally i use the bathroom. during the early springit is the warmest part of our house..lol

please keep us posted!

1/18/2006 11:37:45 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I'll take green stripe/starting mat as #1
green stripe/oven #2

1/18/2006 12:53:41 PM

Indiana

green stripe/starting mat as #1 or peeled

1/18/2006 1:09:30 PM

Syracuse, NY

CREEK, are they all in seed-starting mix? in peat pots?
okay,
SOMEbody try this:

http://bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=140742

it has worked EVERY time, on my '05 seeds anyway.
25-30 can't all be wrong.
NO heat required outside of room temperature of 70-72*F.
i am still testing my '05s for fun, at 3 per attempt.
still not sure about the OLDER seeds yet...EG

1/18/2006 6:50:17 PM

Syracuse, NY

i intend to go to the SEMINAR on that Friday,
with high hopes of setting up a makeshift display
of my method here, with some seeds doin' their thing
as we speak. nothin' major, just "'pal2 method" lol.
restrooms, conference room tables, seed bazaar...kidding.

1/18/2006 6:56:23 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

All the seeds were soaked for 24 hours in moist paper towels and a liquid seaweed mix. After 24 hours the seeds were placed in 4"x5" plastic pots. Now we are waiting............

I printed out your method pal2 and may try that next time.

Does anyone have any other methods that we should try? We are going to try the light bulb (15 watt) in the cooler next time.

1/18/2006 7:33:40 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Last year...I filed lightly...until I saw the thin tan line. Soaked approx. 4 hrs. in peroxide/water solution. I then put seeds directly into 85 degree seed starter mix. Temp was held steady by placing large, thick, styro cooler on top of oil filled electric radiator...several days with gal containers filled with starting mix inside...kept adjusting heat settings until desired temp was stabilized. 100% germination...will not change anything this year...48-60 hrs to emergence. Peace, Wayne

1/18/2006 11:12:54 PM

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Has anyone saved their pumpkin guts until spring to start their seeds in? Just a thought.

1/19/2006 12:08:34 AM

Norton, MA

Hmmmm, that's very interesting (the guts). The light bulb method usually gets mine to germ. in less than 20 hours. When I say germinate, I mean there was some form of root when I took the seed out of the mix, not that they were up. AleX Noel.

1/19/2006 3:11:32 PM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

I had the best luck, file soak, 4 hours, put damp paper towel in baggie with seed on heating pad (about 85 deg) in 24 hours root was showing, put into planting mix

Gary

1/19/2006 3:53:50 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

Ditto Gary...

1/19/2006 5:07:34 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Seems to be two levels of...okay we are growin now...going on. One is from those from those who paper towel seeds until root (radicle ?) shows and then put into starting mix. Two is from those who put filed and soaked seeds, put directly into starting mix. To me, at this point, germination...has two diff meanings...root started in damp towels, or emergence from soil...time frames are way different for the two methods...although, lots of things are the same...moisture level, temp, etc. All input appreciated as which of these two methods concludes in more productive plant. Peace, Wayne

1/19/2006 7:56:34 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

The results are...... first two seeds out of the starting mix were in the cooler with the water jug at 115 degrees. The lightly sanded and the no sand were out first. The next seeds out were from the heating pad and third the oven. All seeds were up and going within 24 hours of the first sprout with one exception. One seed didn't germinate in the oven batch. The seeds that were heavily sanded and the rounded tip pealed off look deformed in two cases.
Now, how many people use grow lights after the seeds sprout? The seeds in all cases and especially the ones in the cooler looked pale until they were outside in the sun for a few days. Is that normal? Thanks again for the help!

1/23/2006 12:03:18 PM

Norton, MA

Alot of us use cool white flourescent bulbs. AleX Noel.

1/23/2006 7:13:36 PM