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Growing old squash seed - any tricks?

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Posted by bella_trix z6b SE PA (My Page) on
Sun, May 27, 07 at 22:27

The seed I received from Cook's Garden seems to be very old and is not germinating well. I bought a mixed pack of "Mediterranean vegetables" just to get the Grise de Algiers Zucchini. Cooks is the last place that carries it. So far, the onion seed in the pack had zero percent germination. The squash seed looks old (some are split on the side) and are not germinating. Can anyone give any suggestions to get the seeds to germinate? Any tricks for old seed? I desperately want to grow this zucchini (and save seed from it). Any help would be highly appreciated.

Thanks,
Bellatrix

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RE: Growing old squash seed - any tricks?

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You might try pre-sprouting some in a wet paper towel in a ziplock bag. I started some 18 year old neck pumpkin seeds this way earlier this year and had 100% germination.

Once the roots appeared I planted the seeds individually in Jiffy-7 peat pellets with part of the seed sticking up out of the pellet. Once the seeds grew up out of the pellets I carefully used some tweezers to remove the seed cover from the first leaves. After about a week I moved them to the garden where I gave them some part-time shade for a week.

Good luck.

Good luck.

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RE: Growing old squash seed - any tricks?

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Thanks for the help! You and another poster on the Heirloom forum have great ideas. Luckily, two of the seeds planted outside came up WAY after all my other squash. If I plant more, I will definitely pre-sprout them.

Thanks again,
Bellatrix

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