This topic contains 13 replies, has 8 voices, and was last updated by devonstew 9 years, 12 months ago.
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I usually have a nightmare trying to germinate curcurbits, but have had success this year trying a different way of sowing. Try dibbing a seed into damp compost as usual, but then cover it with dry compost and then completely leave it alone somewhere warm and bright. Don’t be tempted to water it even if it looks a bit dry. It means this year I’ve got far too many squashes and cucumbers, but no complaints here! Good luck!
Hi stew i have a load of cucurbits for sale near buckfastleigh! If you interested i can mail you a list.. Dan
I sympathise with Stu here after some poor germination myself, especially of squash seeds from Stormy Hall, most disappointing, compared with good germination of melons and reasonable germination of cucumber and my own saved squash. So Stu where did your seed come from or is it a mixture of sources?
my sympathies Stew. Previous years I have had no problems but this year have had problems with toms, cucs and squash. I think I am trying too hard as work is different and I think I may have been taking too much care and possibly watering toto much 😮
Stormy hall blue ballet poor germination here, Tuckers Turks Turban good.
My seeds were from tuckers, chase, plants of distinction, seeds of italy, real seeds, tamar – my germination has been pretty much 100% ! They were sown on a fruit day before full moon and then put on the hotbed which was refilled not long before.. Hmmm
Interesting point Dan and well done, I now wish I had refilled my hotbed which is relatively cool. One final sowing of squash and courgette in on a windowsill indoors for extra warmth.
I sowed mine too on a fruit day before full moon and my courgette (Defender F1) was quite simply the most vigorous germination of any plant I’ve ever seen. Absolutely astonishing. The second pot was slightly slower but again both seeds germinated happily and I now have 4 pots with 1 plant each in.
The cucumber (Long Green Maraicher from Chase Garden) – sown the same time, same conditions (indoor in 8cm pots), only 1 from 4 seeds has germinated after 21 days.
As it’s my first go with either crop, I”m not judgemental, but it seems that courgettes germinate easier than cucumbers!!
Both germinated indoors at around 20C in a mixture of JI Seed compost + perlite.
Thanks for the response folks…..always nice to feel you’re not on your own
I have found in my experience, 2 main reasons for failure; compost and temperature. Since I started using an electric propagator and “New Horizon general purpose” germination has been almost 100%. Room temperatures prevailing at this time of year (say 16 night and 18-19 day) are just not enough and the moist compost just allows the seeds to rot off. I set my propagator to 20. My propagator holds 30 plastic cups and has been is in constant use through April & May.
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