Kitchen Garden Forum

I've tried three batches of Butternut Squash seeds this year and none of them have germinated. I've tried them straight into soil; soaking them in water before sowing them, some in the airing cupboard, some not. Nothing works.

Suggestions and tips please.

Martin.

Get a cheap heated seed tray sized propagator and don't over or under water, moist is what you need.

Wilkinsons have some.

Hi Martin

Butternuts are Cucurbita moschata which all have hard-shelled seeds which are not easy to germinate in the wrong conditions.

My suggestion would be: as buttternuts are notoroius difficult to succeed with except in a very good season, try one of the many "acorn" squashes, which to my mmind mind are so much nicer than butternut. You may not find this suggestion particularly useful

I hope this comment is more useful: you are sowing far too early. Once germinated, all squashes and courgettes are fast growers; since you cannot safely plant them out till early June, there is little to be gained from sowing much before 20th April - other than pot-bound, frozen or wind-blown plants.

Don't rush things! As we say here Mi ddaw - It'll come.

Hello Melliff
As Alan says don't try sowing squash seeds too early. Once germinated they need to be grown on quickly in full light and eventually planted out in warm moist soil - they resent any sort of set-back. Even in this relatively mild area here I don't do any squash seed sowing until about mid-May. They will need a warm temperature to germinate but once the first pair of leaves have begun to emerge they can be moved to a lower temperature. To give the seed a fighting chance of success sow in small pots using peat-type compost and sow the seed pointed end down in a vertical position. Pot on into larger pots say 5-6" ones as growth proceeds then keep them warm and well watered until they are well established and can be planted out sometime in June.
Butternuts form large sprawling plants so you will need a lot space. If space is restricted look out for some of the more compact bush-type varieties of squash to grow.

John

I managed to get everyone of mine to germinate this year by putting a sandwich bag over the plant pot, then placed on a dish and on top of the boiler. Remove as soon as you see them though and keep on a window sill or greenhouse.

I agree with them needing lots of space and a hot year to develop, also a plastic bottle with the end cut off pushed into the base of the plant really helps water and feed get to the roots.

Best year ever was with an Italian butter nut seed I purchased.

Dear Melliff,
Bs will take at least a week longer than other types of squash to germinate and they do not like to be too wet during this time. I also find it a good idea to sow them with the point down and with a very small portion of the seed showing. I feel that this is important because the seed comes from inside a fruit which is designed to be moist and to keep the seeds safe until it is time for them to grow. Which is when the fruit has rotted and exposed the seeds to light.
Another thing is to open the packets a few days in advance of sowing to allow the seeds to absorb some moisture as when they are packed the seeds are dried very well to aid longevity.
Regards Sally Wright.
ps this also applies to turks turbans.

A few years ago Johnboy suggested chafing the edge of the seed near the bumpy end [I can't recall the technical name for it] in order to ease the splitting of the hard shell.

That's very interesting Sally. Thanks.

I have been a bit previous with my butternut squash and now have 13 very happy plantlets with their first true leaves. I am currently bringing them in every night from their day time outing to the unheated greenhouse because I think it is too cold for them to stay out all night. I have moved them into bigger pots today, but does anyone have any advice for how I might get them through to Mid may when I can plant them out. I am away from late april to early may, so I was hoping the wrapping them in fleece at night in the greenhouse may be an option? If I do manage to get a small heater do you think it will be warm enough out there at night. I do realise I won't need all 13 plants if they do well, but I am taking them up to our improvised plot at my BIL's farm where they can just go mad.

Hi Mike,
The method Sally refers to is as follows:
If you are right handed lay the Butternut Seed onto a cutting surface put your left index finger on the seed slightly exposing the opposite end to the scar. With a very sharp knife run the blade down your index fingernail and make a cut into the hard shell. If by cutting you have not pierced the shell repeat the process until you have. Should you manage to cut slightly too much into the seed it will still be OK because that end of the seed is the seeds supply of food to the growing embryo.
Then plant your seed and water and the moisture will initiate germination
should be fairly rapid.
I do the same with Marrows, Courgettes and Pumpkins and all other Squashes.
The cut should be about 1mm but with some varieties a little more.
When cut these seeds readily pregerminate in damp kitchen paper.
JB.

Thanks, JB. What I did last time was to scrape away the hard ridge between the scar and the other end, and that seemed to help. I'll do what you suggest here this year - I should be getting round to it about now, shouldn't I.

I sowed courgettes and squashes about a week ago using JB's advice and Sally's tip of allowing a small bit of seed to show above the soil level.

Three days ago I made cuts in some more and put them between sheets of wet kitchen towelling.

Yesterday one of the courgette seeds in a pot had already germinated. They were on a west-facing windowsill and we had had quite a lot of sun on and off. Bodes well

I've done a trial - to clip or not to clip Squash and related seeds. I hope this shows up so you can follow it!




It looks like chipping gains a day or two but doesn't affect the overall result. All sown on edge, covered by their own depth, in a heated and lighted propagator - today was day 10.
Now all I have got to do is decide what to do with them all!