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Fresno, CA

I've been reading about some of the seed starting techniques - sanding/filing,peroxide,soaking,warming,etc.. Is all of that just to help ensure germination in cold weather or does it give the plant a boost in growth? I ask because in my first two seasons all I've done is put the seeds in dirt in plastic pots outside and added a little water and they all germinated. Could the plants have grown better/faster if I'd use the special techniques? Or should I just stick with simply planting them since that works here.

7/27/2009 9:59:04 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

When you stick a couple of hundred dollars into a seed..you will think differently..take no chances

7/27/2009 1:20:43 PM

Rhode Island

endless trail

i wished i lived in california , thats for sure.

the reason you hear about filing,soaking,air injection, wet napkins in a baggie,ettc, , etc, etc, is because those growers have a specific goal in mind.
they have waited all winter for spring and the chance to get them germinated and, dont want to take any chances by just putting them outside in a plastic pot.
when it in the eighties outside i agree most good ag seeds will germinate, even in sand.( if its kept wet)

in answer to your question ? no, how you germinate does nothing to alter the plant or pumpkin once it developes.

also, when you decided to compete in this hobby your starting your seeds( indoors for the most of us that is), while the air and ground temp outside is still freezing.

7/27/2009 6:51:24 PM

Fresno, CA

Thank you for the explanation. That's exactly what I wanted to know.

7/28/2009 12:25:58 AM