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Location

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Date Posted

Defiance,OH

i am practicing germinating some watermelon seeds out of the melons i grew last year, i am using a cooler and a lightbulb method, am keeping a temp from 95-98 on a steady basis, and 6 days have gone by with no luck. Is there something that i am doing wrong?

3/18/2013 8:15:39 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Is your soil to wet?

3/18/2013 9:05:50 PM

South Hero, VT

Post this question on the watermelon growing forum.

3/19/2013 10:16:28 AM

Defiance,OH

not germinating in soil, im using a wet paper towel and a ziploc bag, i was wondering the same, if it was too wet

3/19/2013 4:24:12 PM

Linden, Mi.,

Use just a damp towel - not wet

3/19/2013 5:39:15 PM

Corryton, TN

Soak seeds 20-30 minutes in 80-90° water. I use 1/2 paper towel folded, wet it, squeeze as much water out as I can with one hand. Should get 60%+ if seeds are good.

3/19/2013 10:10:50 PM

Central Minnesota

I had the same problem last year. I now start them in the Germination Chamber for a few days in damp paper towl and then put them in heated soil. They seem to do better in soil. As others are saying, most likely they are to wet unless you got a lot of the water out. Usually they are up in 4-5 days for me.

3/20/2013 9:13:09 AM

Webster, NY

Never tried watermelon seeds but you can get too hot and roast them. Lost a couple of nice seeds early on by getting them too hot. I try for 80 to 85 degrees.

3/20/2013 11:06:30 AM

maybe a silly question but il ask are the seeds hollow/empty?

3/20/2013 11:50:51 AM

Defiance,OH

hi don, i cut a few seeds apart last night and also the ones that i pulled out of my cooler, all of them have a white substance on the inside of them, i put more seeds in last night, i sanded the edges of them down, didnt soak these ones, and made sure my paper towels were rung out really well, i also put a extra thermometer in the cooler as well to double check temps, this is my second year and i have spent alot of money on seeds this year and im to make sure my investments will be very fruitful(if u know what i mean)

3/20/2013 4:10:25 PM

Colorado

Ive had better germination when soaking in water with a little soluble seaweed added.Use that to wet the paper towel.As mentioned, wring excess moisture out.

3/20/2013 6:27:07 PM