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My pumpkins wont pump.
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Message 1.Â
Posted by Jim (U14466350) on Saturday, 15th May 2010
Is it me, the seed, the compost, the heat or the water but I'm having a job getting the pumpkin seeds to germinate. My first attempt failed. I then filed the edges of the seeds and soaked them in water and the result was just one out of five.
They are in a propagator set at 60c ( the highest setting) in the greenhouse. I try not to over water them. The compost on the first attempt was last years multipurpose. The second attempt involved John Innes seed compost, but it wasn't fresh. The variety is "Hundredweight".
Help please, I've promised my granddaughter the biggest pumpkin ever.
Jim.
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Message 2
Posted by treechange (U14126469) on Saturday, 15th May 2010
I'd say you were about 10 º short Jim!
Way around this is to put your propagator in the sun so it heats up more? -
Message 3
Posted by treechange (U14126469) on Sunday, 16th May 2010
Oh....
I see now you wrote 60c - do you mean 60 degrees celsius?
Then I think you maybe cooking them a bit and they are rotting in the damp.
A good temperature is a steady 23ºC or ± 73ºF.
I water the compost first thoroughly and let it heat up before putting the seed in sidewise, about 2 inches deep. After that i just spray the top with water if I feel it's getting too dry, but usually not necessary as they usually come up within a week.
The secret is a warm and steady temperature I think, so having your propagator in a place where the outside temperature is not fluctuating too much may help. -
Message 4
Posted by northwards (U14324094) on Sunday, 16th May 2010
Not long ago there was a conversation on these boards about how variable the germination of pumpkin and squash seeds can be. Personally I always germinate these seeds before I sow them by keeping them warm on wet kitchen paper, and then once the little root appears I pot them up. That way you can see exactly what's happening, and you also save on pots and compost. In my experience the germination of squash and pumpkins can be wildly variable - from 10-20% to 100%. So maybe the failure of yours to grow might be down to the seeds and not to anything you're doing
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Message 5
Posted by farmerSteve (U2644680) on Sunday, 16th May 2010
60 C would cetrtainly kill many seeds and would inhibit germination in others
As we are regularly seeing complaints about poor germination on these boards I would think normally it is because things are too cold or the quality of the compost
We all got very lax in our habits when we had peat based compost as it seems anything will germinate in those -
Message 6
Posted by Vixxihibiscus (U13865184) on Sunday, 16th May 2010
I got a gift of a "Grow your own Pumpkin" Kit from Marks and Spencer rom a friend. They were in a little cardboard pack shaped like a pumpkin (I suspect for children but I was delighted!
) 12 seeds and I now have 12 pumpkin plants. All just popped in pots in the greenhouse. No propogators or anything else?
Perhaps they couldn't bear to have kids disappointed when their plants don't grow so they put super seeds in!
Jim if you're close to Inverness I have a few to spare!
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Message 7
Posted by Happy Violas (U13861656) on Sunday, 16th May 2010
Wish I'd gone to M&S after seeing your comment! I planted a total of 10 squash / courgette seeds a month ago and only 3 have come up - all in fresh MPC, 3 inch pots, seeds on side and put in poly bags on a sunny windowsill as per instructions..... No idea what I'm doing wrong.
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Message 8
Posted by richardbees (U3432591) on Sunday, 16th May 2010
To germinate 'big seeds' like sweetcorn, pumpkin and melopns, I fold them in a wad of damp tissue, seal in a tupperware box and put in a warm place (e.g. airing cupboard) I inspect them daily after two days and pot up as soon as root growth shows. It's pretty near 100% and solves the problem of having loads of small pots filling up growing space.
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Message 9
Posted by Jim (U14466350) on Sunday, 16th May 2010
Sorry treechange 60 F. Jim.
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Message 10
Posted by treechange (U14126469) on Monday, 17th May 2010
Hi Jim, well you’ve got lots of tips for germination now, it is getting late in the season, if the next lot don’t work then my best tip is to buy a plant from the GC of a giant variety of pumpkin.
Can’t disappoint your granddaughter and come August you’ll both have forgotten you didn’t sow it yourself ! -
Message 11
Posted by Jim (U14466350) on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Just thought you would like to know that I followed you advice on pre germination of pumpkin seeds. It worked a treat. Thanks.
Jim.
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