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  • #1

    Squash seed question

    I bought a butternut squash earlier and made some soup from it. It was delicious. Anyway, I scooped out all the seeds and they are drying out on the windowsill. But if I plant them will they germinate?
    I'm determined to grow them but my success with butternuts this year is not great, I've planted about six seeds and thus far only one has germinated - I've only got four left in the packet and I don't want to have to buy some more.
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  • #2
    Squash seeds need quite a bit of heat to germinate,are you using a propagator.?

    I wouldn't use the seeds you saved to grow plants because squash plants cross polinate very easily.

    But by all means use them to check your germination technique
    Once your tecnique is proven correct try your bought seeds

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    • #3
      Sow them on edge (so the water doesn't sit on them,) water once, put in plastic bag with laccy band...do'nt water again till they are up. when you remove bag

      The saved seeds will not necessarily be butternuts as they can cross pollinate with pumpkins, squash and marrows readily...I have ended up with pumpkins from saved butternut seeds before.
      Last edited by Paulottie; 12-04-2010, 06:06 PM.

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      • #4
        I've had success with saved butternut seeds, they have grown but have differed from the parent squash, darker colour.

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        • #5
          Last year I had a several self sown butternuts come from the compost heap, and they were better than the ones from the bought seed. The squash was just one from the supermarket, but I think I was lucky, perhaps the grower only had butternuts around.
          I could not live without a garden, it is my place to unwind and recover, to marvel at the power of all growing things, even weeds!
          Now a little Shrinking Violet.

          http://potagerplot.blogspot.com/

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Nik View Post
            I've planted about six seeds and thus far only one has germinated - I've only got four left in the packet and I don't want to have to buy some more.
            You might want to try chitting them on kitchen paper:

            You need a saucer, two squares of kitchen towel and some cling film.

            Fold each kitchen towel twice into a small square and soak them in water.

            Put one kitchen towel on the saucer

            Place your seeds on the kitchen towel

            Place the second kitchen towel on top and drain off any excess water on the saucer

            Cover the saucer in cling film and then place it somewhere dark and warm.

            Carefully check the seeds every day. Once a root appears and is about 1cm long, very carefully lift the seed and put it in a 3 inch pot of compost and cover with an inch more compost. Water and wait for it to sprout.

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            • #7
              I'll give it a go, thanks Maypril!

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