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Indiana

I have heard people like to use soluable seaweed when they soak their seeds. Why is this. I useally just soak them for 24 to 30 hours in water before planting because most of the seed are so large and need to be softened up to get through the hard seed coat. The gourds I plant are African Wine Kettle, Large Bushel basket. Have grown for 22 years and am always looking for new ideas. Thanks in advance.

4/16/2013 5:52:16 PM

Muddy Waters

24 -30 hrs seems like a long time? Have you had good results with this?

4/17/2013 5:33:20 AM

Colorado

seaweed is supposed to have some giberillic acid along with a bunch of other stuff in it that may help getting a seed to sprout.Old world gourd seeds are hard to get moisture into-so a 24 hour soak is appropriate. I tried snipping the mickey mouse ear end of the seeds last year(open up a place for moisture to get in) and that worked.Ive got some gvgo bushel gourd seeds that are so big that i may frame them instead of growing them.

4/17/2013 11:14:46 AM

Indiana

Handy, yes my seed usually do pretty good germinating after soaking that long. The seeds from these gourds have almost a woody like seed coat. Cojoe I beleive that iam going to try soaking them in some seaweed to see what happens. I am sure it wont do any harm. Thanks for the info

4/17/2013 5:32:19 PM

Muddy Waters

how long do you soak the normal long gourds like the 108 Eaton??

4/17/2013 8:45:18 PM

Indiana

Handy, I don't grow long gourds but i do grow extra long handle dippers. I am sure they are in the same hard shelled family right? I soak my long handle dippers the same as I do my African Wine Kettles, Bushel baskets and all of my other hard shelled gourd seeds. all being soaked 24 to 30 hours before planting and put into the green house. The soaking just seems to help soften the seed coat and give me a better germination. I have tried planting without soaking and it seems these seeds just sit in the potting soil for a long time.

4/17/2013 9:07:02 PM