Kitchen Garden Forum

Well, I'm a bit down. A while ago, I went to a local seed swap, and got a packet of red turban winter squash seeds (10) that I was really looking forward to growing... Well, I planted them a couple of weeks ago, in module trays, and none of them germinated... I was upset but assumed that it was just because the seeds were old (the date on the pack was 2010, so 6 years past best) But out of 10 seeds, I had hoped for 1 or 2 plants...

Well, I decided today to give up on them and sift out the soil so to remove the squash seeds, and the few seedlings of other random weeds.

What I didn't expect to find was the seeds 1/2 liquified and crawling with grubs. The font of all knowledge (wikipedia) reckons the seeds just died and were rotting. But I didnt over water them, so either the seeds were infected before I started, or were dead and just waiting to rot... But I didnt over water them...

I'm rather upset because I was looking forward to a nice harvest of winter squash... Ah well, I'll just have to make an order from real seed next year and get something I know will grow

Hi Dan,
I know I am always harping on about pregermination but had you taken one or two of your seed swap and artificially germinated them or not as the case may be. Pregermination is not foolproof by any measure because you can pregerminate old seed and it may germinate but will not grow. This generally means that although the embryo may still be alive the vital first nourishment contained within the seed has perished.
JB.