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Hinckley MN

How deep do you file the seed edges? On most seeds when you lightly scuff the edge they turn white. I've been filing until the color changes slightly. On tan seeds, it then looks tri-colored: tan then white with dull yellow in the middle. If you keep filing, you will cut in to the olive drab colored seed leaf. Some thicker seeds don't seem to germinate if you file until it just turns yellow.

12/29/2011 12:05:19 PM

Mount Vision, NY

Ben, I did a Google search and on this page there's a pretty good photo of a filed seed and what not filed...

http://biggiantpumpkin.com/?p=5

12/29/2011 5:56:38 PM

Mount Vision, NY

I meant to type "one not filed". Obviously it was a long day at work must be!

12/29/2011 5:57:59 PM

Sourthern Utah

Ben,,,
I file the sides until i can see the inner layer on my seeds ,, have had good success with that method

1/3/2012 5:50:01 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Truth is seeds don't actually need to be filed at all. Your object is just help the seed release the shell...any filing even light will do this...don't look for color changes and rims...a good soak will do it...to much filing may result in a saturated seed not ready to germinate and rotting before it's time.

1/3/2012 6:26:43 PM

Mass

dremel with a sanding head, very carefully! :-)

1/3/2012 7:49:17 PM

Hinckley MN

I have a selection of wood rasps that make quick work of seed filing. I did a seed germination test with unfiled seeds. From 24 seeds I got exactly 0% germination after 5 days. With filed seeds I got 80% germination in 5 days With seeds filed and in an incubator, I got 100% germination in 3 days.

1/4/2012 1:42:27 AM

Mount Vision, NY

Interesting results Ben. I'm thinking you also soaked the seeds?

1/4/2012 6:13:13 AM

Colorado

I've over filed and hit the seed germ( badly on a couple of long gourd seeds). Wasnt a problem.Ive had better germination luck fileing long gourd seeds.

1/4/2012 11:36:36 AM

Hinckley MN

seeds were soaked for 4 hours in 1/3 peroxide, 2/3 water, then patted dry and dusted with captan. seeds were planted in 3 inch peat pots with comercial potting mix and either in a tray w/dome, on a heat mat or in the incubator.

I used 3 inch pots because these seeds were not going to see dirt and I didn't want to waste my 5 inch pots (and twice as many fit in the same space). Almost as soon as the seeds emerged, the roots penetrated the bottom of the pots.

1/4/2012 11:52:18 AM