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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Philbasford on April 15, 2010, 09:01:20

Title: Sqaush germination
Post by: Philbasford on April 15, 2010, 09:01:20
How long do people find thier squash take to germinate?
Had mine in for about a week and bit now and the seeds aint even doing anything yet (everything else like pumpkin is ok), have moved them around so they catch the sun in the morning (inside)and get a chance to warm up

The seeds were really expensive to!!
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: manicscousers on April 15, 2010, 09:03:01
had mine in my heated propagator, took 5 days..still time  ;D
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: froglets on April 15, 2010, 09:21:58
Unheated plastic greenhouse, just over two weeks to germination.  Time yet.
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: Philbasford on April 15, 2010, 09:22:20
Quote from: manicscousers on April 15, 2010, 09:03:01
had mine in my heated propagator, took 5 days..still time  ;D

Yea ill give them another week, trouble is with the sun not shining i cant fink of a warm part of a house for them to go in to !!
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: Philbasford on April 15, 2010, 09:23:07
Quote from: Philbasford on April 15, 2010, 09:22:20
Quote from: manicscousers on April 15, 2010, 09:03:01
had mine in my heated propagator, took 5 days..still time  ;D

Yea ill give them another week, trouble is with the sun not shining i cant fink of a warm part of a house for them to go in to !!

thanks u have reassured me, i just took a seed out and it was still the same as it was when i put it in!
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: 1066 on April 15, 2010, 11:52:30
Mine seem to vary lots - I sowed them all on the 4th April and am still waiting for the last few stragglers, mostly it seems to take them 7 to 10 days on a sunny window cill.
What has been fun is checking on them late afternoons and seeing what has germinated that day  :D

1066
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: Mortality on April 15, 2010, 11:54:15
I planted 2 of my saved (might produce) butternut squash seeds on the 9th of March, the first one had definitely germinated by the 27th of March, but the second seed didnt germinate until about a week ago when I put them in the mini greenhouse. ::)
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: greenhousegirl on April 15, 2010, 13:15:53
I germinated my squash in pots in the kitchen they all came up at different times and now range from the largest at about 4" with three leaves to ones that are only just popping through.

I planted the seeds 3 weeks ago.

will take them to the greenhouse when they are all through

OH is a bit sick of seedlings in the kitchen already.

Although he never complains when he is eating the produce
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: Philbasford on April 15, 2010, 13:35:09
our trays of seeds/pots/etc etc are covering the back bedroom/office !
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: greenhousegirl on April 15, 2010, 13:44:33
Lucky you, we don't have a spare room/office all room occupied.  Maybe I should suggest an extension (Maybe not!!)
Quote from: Philbasford on April 15, 2010, 13:35:09
our trays of seeds/pots/etc etc are covering the back bedroom/office !
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: tomatoada on April 15, 2010, 18:31:49
Last year I put mine in the airing cupboard for 3 days. They appeared on the 5th day.  I am planting  this years at the week-end.
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: Vortex on April 16, 2010, 12:32:52
I would have thought it far too cold to be planting squashes outside. Mine will stay in the greenhouse/cold frame for at least another 4 weeks.
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: Mortality on April 16, 2010, 12:59:28
Quote from: Vortex on April 16, 2010, 12:32:52
I would have thought it far too cold to be planting squashes outside. Mine will stay in the greenhouse/cold frame for at least another 4 weeks.

Depends where you are, I've planted out my squash (yesterday), but then i'm in Devon which tends to be warmer.
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: Digeroo on April 16, 2010, 14:44:55
I think that if you chit the seeds they germinate quicker.   I put them in damp paper and during the day put on a very sunny window sill and in the evening they go onto the radiator.    

Mine will go outside next month.  Until then they will be cluttering up the kitchen during the evening/night.  I have a patio door and they will be several layers tall over the non opening side.  Will be going outside under plastic on sunny days.  I think that they need at least 7degrees to be happy and we are nowhere near that at night.  Much too windy here too.
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: GodfreyRob on April 16, 2010, 16:23:33
Mine were sonw on the 23rd march and I have just potted them up into 6ins (15cm) pots-they will still be in the conservatory.
When they start to outgrow those pots they will go in the polytunnel under a fleece cloche.
I just can't resist early sowings but also won't put them outside until its reliably milder.
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: chriscross1966 on April 16, 2010, 16:44:41
You all seem a bit early to me, I'm only planning on sowing mine next week....and I'm in Swindon which isn't exactly twinned with the North Pole..... but we're due two weeks of rather low night-time temps according to the Met Office...

chrisc
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: saddad on April 16, 2010, 17:45:13
I doubt mine will be sown until next weekend...  :-\
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: bennettsleg on April 16, 2010, 19:34:44
I'll be sowing mine towards the end of April as I've only got one windowsill that has an internal ledge and it's already full!  I also believe that the season is running about a month late due to the prolonged winter.
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 16, 2010, 19:58:51
I was thinking earlier that the allotments look more like what we're used to for March, though our perceptions are getting skewed by global warming.
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: amphibian on April 16, 2010, 23:40:10
I normally chit my seed and then sow in an unheted pot. This year I've just sown in an unheated pot, a week on, no sign yet. Plenty of time, so need to worry.
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: Philbasford on April 17, 2010, 08:18:54
They have appeared like the proverbial bus this morning ;D
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: Mortality on April 17, 2010, 17:42:19
(http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/gallery/10575_17_04_10_5_39_20.jpg)

They seem fine, I've put em under a closh just incase.

Gonna try and do a three sister thing with Butternut Squash, Painted Mountain Corn and French Beans - Blue Lake (Dig In)
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: Squashman on April 17, 2010, 19:25:45
I grow 30+ varieties of squash in North Devon, with the weather pattern we have had this year I have not sown a single seed yet. End of next week will be soon enough. I shall be having baked squash with my lunch tomorrow, one of many stored from last autumn.
I will be setting 300 of my normal seed plus a few new ones. There was a frost down here yesterday morning, it was still on the ground at 7am.
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: FennelandFern on April 17, 2010, 19:32:38
I soak mine overnight and then sow in a heated propagator - up within a week. only thing you need to look out for is that you take the lid off once the seedling comes up so it has room!

I also sow mine on their sides to stop rotting, although I've heard recently that's just a myth. I now do it as a comfort blanket more than anything else!
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: Glen on April 18, 2010, 19:42:11
Sowed my last Tues, in jiffy pots and then put in a propagator on the heat mat set about 26 degrees. All are up today.

I am doing:
Pumpkin - Big Max
Courgette - Black Beauty, and some other variety?
Winter Squash - thinks it a Hunter?
Summer Squash - Patty Pan.

I have decided that I am growing to try and grow them in very large pots this year. Last year I grew them in my small raised beds and they just sprawled all over the place and took up too much room.
Title: Re: Sqaush germination
Post by: tonybloke on April 18, 2010, 20:20:00
sown last Tuesday, put in heated propagator, 100 % germination. (11 from Mr Fothergills, 12 from 'Wilko's Butternut) both stated 10 seeds on Packet, btw.[attachment=1]