Grow Your Own Magazine

dear all,
I'm having trouble germinating my butternut squash seeds. They have been in my seed sprouter for ever and not a sign of life, as you may know from previous posts i've found this a very sucessful and speedy way of starting my seeds off.
Now i have taken them out and chipped the hard coat putting them in a propogater with heat 20 degrees.
Is there a secret other way or have i got a dud packet?

maybe a dud packet - I'm having the same problem with my courgettes! it's driving me nuts. I normally have no issues and they're the easiest things to grow, but this year have already planted 10 seeds and not one of them has germinated. I'm blaming it on old seeds and just invested in some new ones.

How old are your seeds? If you've just bought them, check the expiry date on them as they may be old stock.

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dear eskymo,
Thanks for reply, i have all five of my courgettes come through, same method of sprouting in kitchen, they are into their second set of laeves now. Sorry its such a long way to fife or you could have had some.
Seeds are fresh bought this year.

I love this forum!

Thanks for the generous offer...but I guess I'll just wait on my next batch of seeds and see if they germinate.

cheers

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plot 11 pam... I have butter nut squach seeds that all germinated and still have some going if you want some... check the seed swap threads if you want to know the variety etc, but I still have loads left if you want some

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Shortie

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter

Plot 11 Pam, at the risk of sounding mental the secret is wait for the feeling. I never set a date or go strictly by the calendar when planting seeds. I wait for a day when I KNOW this is the day on which everything will grow, and sure enough, there they are in no time. Wait for the feeling and plant your seeds again. Nuts? I don't think so. Live in rhythm with the seasons.

I think I have a dud packet as well (of courgettes) - have been waiting for ever and planted all and still no signs of life. Is it too late to buy a new packet and try again?
Thanks
Mel

Mel,

I havnt even planted my first sowing of courgettes yet....plenty of time to try again.

Alice, fantastic idea, had no idea you were of Jedi descendants....maybe you should speak to Jax about his voices!

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Geordie

Te audire non possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure

I've just put some butternut squash seeds in the propagator & am waiting to see how long they take to germinate (they were free with GYO mag.)My courgettes were up within a couple of days of going in the propagator though so if yours are taking a long time they may be too old or could have rotted in the pot as one of mine had done(compost too wet I think)

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Into every life a little rain must fall.

This morning the squash seeds are up, only three mind, but wow that heat has worked. Thanks for help and offers of plants.

My courgette seeds aren't up either. It was a brand new packet too. Makes me wonder what I'm doing wrong... Maybe I'll try with another packet.

Maybe this year just isn't for courgettes as mine have still not come up and I'm on my third packet. Tried different soils/composts too to see if that was the issue, but still not show. Very weird.

I have got two watermelon planted popping out of the soil though so I'm going to focus on those for a while instead...maybe if I mentally shift my focus onto other seedling the courgettes will pop up out of jealousy!

gardening can make you mad...maybe i was insane to begin with though!

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I sowed squashes, marrows, courgettes and cucumbers on Easter saturday. The cucumbers wouldn't fit in the propagator but they have germinated just in the greenhouse. Some squashes (Crown Prince) were up within 3 days as were 2 of the courgettes since then though just one marrow has appeared until today when a butternut squash has come through. Amazing the difference in time. I will give the rest one more week and then I will re sow.

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I usually poke around in the compost & investigate the seeds if they have not come up by the time I expect. That's how I found out one of the courgette seeds had rotted- found it ,squeezed it ,out came white ,squishy,smelly goo- dead & gone!

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Into every life a little rain must fall.

I sowed courgette, squash and cucumber on 21 April. They are in the greenhouse but no sign of them yet. How long do they normally take and should I be worried yet?

I grow a couple of dozen squash over 3-4 rod each year.

Unless you sow them with some form of heat, be it propagator or airing cupboard, you will not get a good germination rate and with Crown Prince at £2 for six seeds that is a waste.

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Amanda they should take between 5 - 8 days so no need to panic. I find that squash and courgettes germinate better in the propagator but I sowed cucumbers on 15th April in the greenhouse and they came through yesterday.

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Thanks LJ, I will check them again tonight and maybe sing to them a little, that should stop them germinating altogether!

SueA - I took your advice and poked around in the soil a bit and yippee, my courgettes are coming up and I reckon in a couple of days the shoots will be ablve ground. Now I'm worried as I've got 14 seeds on the go - not sure where I will plant them all if they all come up!

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Sowed three different type of cucumber the middle of April > had all but given up hope. In the last week have got a 50% germination ratr. Out of 12 sowed (4of each type ) got 6 to getminate. Actually 2 of each germinated in the cold greenhouse and are flying away ever since. Don't give up hope.

I planted my squash & courgette on 25th March, they have only come through this week. I did however put them in the propagator at the weekend because nothing was happening! It has suddenly got warmer this week for us. Of 4 courgette seeds, only 1 came through - it was the last of old seed though.

I have planted 3 lots of courgette seeds from 3 different packets with one, yes only one seed germinating into a pathetic specimen of a plant. I have given up and ordered some plants!

Hi Chickenkeeper welcome to the mad house!! It seems to have been a strange year for germinating courgettes and squashes. Mine are usually through within a week but not this year. Each day another one germinates but tomorrow I am going to re sow the ones that still haven't germinated.

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Same for me too. None of the spaghetti squash have germinated - will have one more try.
There were loads of veg plants in our local garden centre today, so no worry, just costs more than home grown, and probably not the particular variety you would prefer. No spag squash of course!!!

Eskymo, what are you going to do with all those courgettes! I reckon 1 plant per person in household will give you all you can eat. Agree with everybody its been a funny year for germinating. Courgettes no problem, in fact now outside with flowers on! Tomatoes into flower. Will try to get time to do a piccy tomorrow BUT cucumber will just not germinate. Think I'll resow. Keep you posted.