Allotments 4 All

A friend of mine recently gave me some seeds. I think they are either pumpkin or some kind of squash, (she's not sure what the're called in English). They are black, and about the size of a shirt button at one end and are teardrop shaped, I potted them 2 to a pot and put them in a propagator . I planted them point down but am worried this might be the wrong way up, I know this has got to be the daftest question in the world but can they still grow? I dont really mind what they grow into cause I'm going to cook and eat them anyway. There definatly edible. ;D ;D ;D

Sharp end up!

Is that sharp pointy or sharp flat?

I sow them on their side (narrow edge) so the pointy and flat end are horizontal, never had a problem with germination and growing that way.

Thanks all, I'll dig them up and put half sharp end up and half on their sides and let you know what I get.

I saw something on TV some years ago about this. Whoever it was reckoned that whichever way up you plant a seed, gravity makes the chemical that stimulates roots ease to the bottom of the seed so it shouldn't matter. A different chemical is left at the top of the seed to induce growth. I guess getting 100% germination in a seed proves it. Folklore suggests that flat seeds like pumpkin or cucumber should be sown on edge so that they don't rot but modern opinion seems to be that it's unnecessary.

i am with the DJ on this :)

Seeds don't care which way up they are. You can turn them round as many times as you like; roots will always go down, and shoots will always go up.

I dont think it really matters which way up they go, but with fairly big seeds like pumpkins, gourgette's etc i always plant them on there edge, ie not lying flat. I read somwhere that the these seeds can rott if planted lying flat.

They seem to know which way to grow and turn if necessary to grow in the right direction. Can take a bit longer though.

The seeds work it out for themslves

thank gowd the seeds have more sense than I do, I havent had time to do anything with their positioning yet , I dont finnish work until late Sunday night, but I think I might just leave them alone in the light of this new info and keep my fingers crossed. THANKS EVERYONE.

Hey scotch mist, if you did do the test I would love to know if the sharp-side-up ones came up any faster (if I have time I plant mine this way). Also your seeds sound really interesting, will you post photos when they fruit up?  ::) ;D

ok supersprout, I'll tell you what I'll do everyone has got me curious now , just in from work now but tomorrow sometime I'll make time to resow 6 pots , 3 I'll turn sharp side up and 3 I'll sow sharp side across ,all on their edge the remaining 4 pots will be left as are (sharp sides down) and will keep everyone posted what happens. Somethings bound to happen.

Love these trials scotch-mist, look forward to your posts ...  ;D ;D

Hi again,

I thought it would be nice to update on the unidentified seeds.

out of all the different ways sown,I have one seedling in each pot,
that is 3 pots sharp side down, got,   1 seedling germinated in 2 separate pots.

            3 pots sharp side up,   got,      1 seedling germinated in 2 separate pots.

            3 pots sharp side across,  got,  1 seedling germinated in 2 separate pots.

Moral = Mother nature has all the answers and can teach even idiots like me  ;D ;D

P.S. Does anyone know what I should do with the seedlings now? assuming they are pumpkins please. ???

But so nice to have Scientific Proof eh scotch-mist! ;D ;D ;D

Bless. I had a mother-in-law once who I could never please and she was so sure that I was going to plant my potatoes the WRONG way but fortunately a friendly neighbour assured me that I couldn't. So often you here those old folks chuntering and really it doesn't matter what way!!

how they doing now supersprout ?

i went away on hollibobs for a few nights and have come back to not a lot of growth of anything tbh so am interested in how fast/slow yours are progressing.

Apart from seed tapes (carrot, beet, parsleys, parsnip, kales) which will go in tomorrow, I haven't planted anything with seeds big enough to test yet Mrskp :-[, will do & compare notes after Easter.
Had a good laugh whilst doing the seed tapes, took out my first pack of scorzonera and decided they were not tape-worthy. Have you ever seen the seeds? they are like short fat lengths of wire :o :o