Courgette germination

[miniroots]

Hello there,

I sowed my courgettes about 10 days ago... there is no sign of them...
I know they are supposed to be quick for germination - should I start again?  I have used seed left over from last year - should I have bought new?

Or should I just be patient?

[miniroots]

[dandelion]

Have a (careful) little poke in the compost.

[miniroots]

I've excavated three of them - they're not doing anything... but I think the seeds a a bit fatter than they were when sown...

hmmm

[budgester]

This is the first time I've tried courgettes, so far I've had 6 out of 10 pop up.

However there is obviously a way up to plant the seeds as 2 of mine came up roots first which is quite a bizarre thing to see.

[SueSteve]

Yes, you plant them on their side.
I planted 30, and 26 came up. Some took a week, and the last 2 appeared after about 3 weeks!!
Sue

[David R]

if they are cool, they can take ages. In fact lots of variables affect germination. What sort of conditions are they in?

I sowed mine yesterday, in a 4" pot, moist seed compost, covered with a propagator lid. They are in a cool potting shed and I expect them to take a little while as night temps are still cool.

[miniroots]

They are in my unheated house.  Should they be in the dark?
I think it was probably warmer last year when they germinated - I would have had the heating on a bit.
But I've had it off for a few weeks, because my tomato seedlings were getting shocked...

I think I'll wait a bit longer.

[Chris Graham]

Exact same problem with mine.

Sown 6 last weekend but no sign yet. Covered them with clingfilm to heat them up a bit.

May have to excavate too  ;)

[emmy1978]

They are in my unheated house.  Should they be in the dark?
I think it was probably warmer last year when they germinated - I would have had the heating on a bit.
But I've had it off for a few weeks, because my tomato seedlings were getting shocked...

I think I'll wait a bit longer.

I put courgettes, pumpkins and squashes on my daughters bedroom windowsill. i've turned all the other rads off and just put the heating on in her room for hour or two each day while she's at school. They've all germinated fine but the courgettes took weeks to do anything else. They're off now though, fighting for houseroom in the mini g/h.

[growmore]

If they are a bit fatter than when sown and havent rotted they will germinate ok .. :)   

[miniroots]

Great, thanks everyone... I'll try cling film and patience

[caroline7758]

Did you pre-chit them- put between sheets of damp kitchen paper. works a treat in speeding up germination!

[miniroots]

Covered in bubble wrap (that's what came to hand) and the first one is poking it's head out now!!

[Chris Graham]

Me too, i have two growing, but Butternut and parador not yet

[RobinOfTheHood]

They need heat, I learned this last year when mine took almost a month to surface.

Planted this year's in a propagator and they were all up in 3 days.

[Chris Graham]

Thats the Butternut and Parador up now ;)