From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Colorado

Hi BP! for the life of me I struggle every year getting long gourd and bushel gourds started, They just wont germinate, any suggestions. I did a search but maybe my keywords are off. TIA for any tips!

3/8/2022 8:37:19 PM

Grittyville, WA

Try some Yohe seeds. They were my strongest ones:) Ive found some seeds will be duds its a bit harder to tell which seeds are good, than say, pumpkins. They just need warm temps I dont think they need much water. Try going a bit drier? But keeping the humidity up might be good.

3/8/2022 9:22:38 PM

Grittyville, WA

They are similar to peppers. Very warm temps, and be patient.

3/8/2022 9:23:45 PM

I followed Irischaps' method and finally got a BG to germinate.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=40&p=701864

3/8/2022 9:33:43 PM

Look at pumpconns" tip

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=40&p=701148

3/8/2022 9:36:57 PM

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=40&p=652164

3/8/2022 9:44:08 PM

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=40&p=637697

these links might be of some help until a gourd grower answers.

3/8/2022 9:48:20 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Soak, 90 degrees, slightly damp almost dry soil, overhead LED light does the trick for me

3/9/2022 7:19:52 AM

Lodi, California

I've heard people use gibberellic acid to encourage germination. You can just use a bit of seaweed. Haven't tried straight ga3 yet.

3/9/2022 12:27:29 PM

Colorado

Thank you all, I will try the multiple methods and report back. Ashton I do have GA3 trying to get these 2 seeds to go and still nothing. the trend I see is drier, I think that maybe my issue right there. Thank you all again!

3/9/2022 7:06:07 PM

Syracuse, NY

Just for fun, how old might the seeds be? I have not done gourds of any kind in like 18 years.

Personally!!!, I've always wanted to have a huge RANGE of a germination temp for ANY seeds I am sprouting - from room temperature to 98.6;
The reason? Because if you were to put a seed under your tongue for five minutes to 3 days or more, would that hurt the seed?

Probably not, and seeds, particularly gourd seeds it sounds like, would like a really warm germination temp. SO, to VARY that temp from room temperature to 98.6 would cover ALL the temperatures between Point A and Point B and all that would be required is a TIMER that is set to allow long enough on/off times for EACH end point temp to occur.

I'd better pay attention, too, with all the BG seeds I've gotten, lol---eg

3/10/2022 5:35:24 AM

Partlow,Va

Break one "ear" off or crack it. Soak an hour. Germ at 90. Older seeds can be slower or not germ. I never had a problem once I started cracking the top ear. Use fingernail clippers just don't cut with them.

3/10/2022 9:18:00 AM

50 Acres

Pumpkinpal2 there is another body cavity into which it can be placed and fertilized too. :>)

3/10/2022 9:21:14 AM

Syracuse, NY

Place 'Oh, my Goodness!' emoji here___, lol---eg

3/10/2022 1:36:34 PM

Syracuse, NY

Well, I planted about 25 of my 444 seed in 5 plastic cups with SS mix inoculated with Myco in my Gerry Germ-Bucks (Germination Buckets) late last night at a set temp. of 93 degrees F and a minimum temp of hopefully just above freezing, lol, since they are just outside my kitchen door in the attached garage. Timer is on at midnight and off at 4 pm. We'll see - these are seeds that I think have stopped germinating easily from just 2011. eg

3/12/2022 4:41:55 AM

Syracuse, NY

Oddly, those 444 seeds o' mine did sprout at a rate of 1 in 5, but never in the center of the SS mix in the clear plastic cups; Will grow 1-2 and self them.
I started out at what 16 on and 8 off, so I then changed that to on for 4 and off for 4 because maybe the lower limit of temp was too low @ 42. Else, I propose that maybe the temp needs to be in the acceptable RANGE of temps and fluctuating wildly therein.
So, maybe 4 on, 4 off but the range might be between 65 and 90, for instance. Will experiment more but whatever DOES sprout now is more important. I've got 2 weeks+, lol---eric g

4/10/2022 7:16:44 PM