Germination Story

[Martin]

I sowed some Butternut Squash seeds about three weeks ago in pots, keeping them nice and warm in the airing cupboard. They did not germinate. Last week, I poked over the compost in one of the pots to see if the seeds had rotted. I could not find them, but I left the disturbed pot with the others in the cupboard. A day later, one of the seeds in the disturbed pot had germinated. Wondering if the distubance was significant, I poked over the compost in the other pots. This morning, another seed has germinated. Is it co-incidence or has disturbing the seeds forced them into life?

Martin.

[hilary]

Hi,
Would like to see what others say on this, I am on my second attempt to get butternut to germinate, first with propagator and then in an unheated greenhouse. Still awaiting those first leaves. I suspect it may still be a bit too cold, we had a touch of frost last night. Will have another attempt mid May with pumpkins. Has Johnboy any thoughts on this one.?
Regards
Hilary

[Chantal]

I sowed six seeds and have one plant. Another germinated but something ate the top of it. The other four seeds are just sitting there doing nothing. I put another six in this weekend to try and get some more.

I had a similar problem with my Pattison's Orange pattypan squash. I planted six seeds and didn't get one. I rummaged around in the soil a few times and eventually took one out and cut it as it felt a bit soggy. The whole of the inside of the seed was liquid and they were all the same.

[Garlic_Guy]

I'm not boasting, but I sowed mine a while back and have 6 plants around 3 inches high. I don't recall any special steps - they just "worked".

I'm not going to plant more than 4, so if anyone's near Bristol and wants to collect, you'd be welcome to have one or two.

[Chantal]

Thanks for the offer Colin but I'm way to far off to take you up on it.

[pigletwillie]

i have one Chanters

[Chantal]

I have one too Piglet, but just the one if the rest don't come up I'll be on the scrounge at Malvern Oh, are you talking butternut or Pattison's Orange? I don't have any of those.

[Tigs33]

I have three butternut squash plants and 3 spaghetti squash plants. Planted 4 of each seed.

[pigletwillie]

Chantal, actualy I was implying that I have 1 spare. I have 6 butternut sprinter and 6 crown Prince and 2 of Peters monsters up. I can reserve you 1 if required.

[Allan]

I sowed a whole packet of sprinter, also Turks Turban, a green sort, vegetable spaghetti, small sugar and one other, 15 pots of each. Something has got to work. I got amazing crop of Sprinter last year and they kept very well, the biggest was eaten a month ago.
Allan

[Chantal]

Thanks Piglet, can I let you know? My second set may all come up in a week and I'll be fine. Also, if someone else's need is greater than mine it would hardly be fair of me to scrounge one from you when I do have one already.

I'll keep you posted on developments

[Allan]

The missing one on my list wa Hasta La Pasta. it looks very special in the catalogue. It is an orange variant of spaghetti squash, extra sweet too. Thompson & Morgan.
Allan

[taralastair]

Hi. I also sowed my butternuts about a fortnight ago and was starting to think that they weren't going to show. I too had a poke around in the soil and now about half have started to come up. Maybe it's just a matter of waiting or maybe the poking about helped. I have also sown winter festival, nice-long and buttercup last weekend. I'll let you know how those get on.

Tara

[Rubberman]

I planted 6 Butternut seeds, 1 of which came through after a few days. Like others before me, I too grew impatient with the rest and had a bit of a poke around. Three days later, up pop another 4! Encouraged by this, I tried the same technique with some reluctant pumpkins and it worked again.
Has anyone had a poke around in anything else and been successful or does it only work with gourds? Or am I just kidding myself that it made a difference?

[Chantal]

I'm going to give my seeds a poke at the weekend if nothing's through. Who knows and what's to lose?