Seed mix-up

[caroline7758]

I set seeds of courgette and winter festival squash to chit on damp kitchen roll, then forgot which was which. :-[ One lot is now chitted,sown and up, while the others have not yet chitted. Assuming both lots were viable, which do you think are which?

[caroline7758]

[nilly71]

I'd go with the courgettes being the ones that have germinated first........ but that's a guess ;D

Have you tried searching the net for images of the courgettes/squash?

Neil

[goodlife]

they are so difficult to tell apart untill they have grown a bit... ::)and not just grown as seedling..grown as little plants...

[GrannieAnnie]

Aren't squash seeds thicker and rounder generally and courgette seed lighter in color, thinner and more pointed?

And here the slugs really go for the courgette seedling more than the squash for some reason.

[goodlife]

Oh yes..I missed that..I was only looking that sown and up bit... ::)
So how does you "not chitted " seeds look...roundish or pointy?
Do you sow yours straight into ground Annie as I haven't notice slugs doing that...I always start mine in pots..I think mine would not have no change with creepy crawlies without pre-growing them first... ::)

[Jeannine]

Even with squash as small as festival I would expect them to look chunkier and maybe a wee but bigger than courgette, but it is at best a guess..

Which one would you expect might not germinate..eg is one old seed, from a swap maybe, or home saved,  Festival shoould be pretty robust as a seed so might take off well.

Can you see a difference, and is it all only type that has germinated. if both hang on, plant habit will tell you in the end.

XX Jeannine

[caroline7758]

Thanks for allyour suggestions. The non-germinated ones do look a bit fatter and rounder-but smaller! Have justcheckedtheempty packets and the squash says 7-10 days for germination whilethe courgette says 5-8 days, soI'm guessing it's the courgettes that are up already. Will let you know!

[triffid]

Morning Caroline... and "Arghh!" on your behalf (where's a good wailing smiley when you need one?)

Your post sent me dashing off to fetch seedlings to compare. (No more Winter Festival seed, so I can't compare the seeds - sorry!).
So right now I have two plantlets fixed under my gimlet gaze  Wink


Subject no. 1: Winter Festival squash. Now showing three true leaves. These look slightly curranty when they first unfurl, then open out to nice heart shapes.

Subject no 2: Courgette de Nice a fruit rond (the only courgie I've started so far).  Jeannine's spot-on: it's taller and more slender-stemmed than the squash.
Now showing two true leaves. Once fully opened, these are almost circular. They are thinner (much more translucent)  than the squash's leaves, and less hairy, too, particularly on the top surface. The just-unfolding leaf feels quite silky in fact - barely any hairs.

Sorry no pic poss at the mo'... OH has the camera and is gone for the day. Hope the word picture helps a bit?

All the best,
Triff

[caroline7758]

Thanks for going to all that trouble, Triffid. h

[GrannieAnnie]

Oh yes..I missed that..I was only looking that sown and up bit... ::)
So how does you "not chitted " seeds look...roundish or pointy?
Do you sow yours straight into ground Annie as I haven't notice slugs doing that...I always start mine in pots..I think mine would not have no change with creepy crawlies without pre-growing them first... ::)

I can only sow mine directly in soil if they are surrounded by a loo tube or yogurt container with bottom cut out. Otherwise they're slug dinner.

[triffid]

No trouble at all Caroline. I realised after scrutinising these two bewildered little bits of flora that I ought to take a close look at my plants more often. I feel I know these two much better now.  ;D
When I finally reclaim the camera from OH, though, I could take pictures for you if that would help... ?

[caroline7758]

Well, I still failed to distinguish them even when they were large plants, but finally today the first three that I planted out have produced tiny courgettes! So now I can give away my surplus knowing what they are! so the answer is, the courgettes germinated quicker but there is very little difference in the leaf shape and pattern!