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Stanwood, Washington

One of the seeds I planted grew upside down. The dirt started to mound up and the seed coat popped out of the dirt followed by a white mass. I left it for a couple of days and it just sat like that. When I investigated the white mass was the bottom of the stem and the plant was actually growing downward with fully developed cots burrowing down towards the bottom of the pot. Has anyone every seen anything like that before?

4/4/2016 12:07:36 PM

Central NY

wierd...plant it in a topsy turvy...

4/4/2016 1:39:19 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

send it to Australia it could be the lucky one

4/4/2016 1:47:48 PM

Wixom MI.

you may have just started the underground pumpkin society !!!

4/4/2016 1:50:58 PM

Upa Creek, MO

From what I understand, plants respond to gravity in the dark through gravitropism and that’s how they know which way is up and what way to shoot the roots down. I have seen this in the paper towel method since they are on their side and the tap root shoots out in a 180 occasionally, but it self corrects once the seed is put in the planting medium. I suppose you could turn it over if it doesn’t correct, but to me that would be a red flag for that plant. I would start a back up incase you have a lemon… just my 2 cents.

4/4/2016 3:46:14 PM

Bethlehem CT

Ditto what Luke said, as far as I know all plants will grow out of the soil in a response to gravity. My guess is that if you give it more time it will correct itself. A plant that doesn't respond to gravity would be really bizarre. I am not even sure if that is possible. It would be like a baby being born without lungs.

4/4/2016 3:54:48 PM

Colorado

I suspect a Canadian seed-specifically one of dudly doorights crosses:)

4/4/2016 4:28:47 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

You mean Eddy CoJoe?

4/4/2016 5:14:33 PM

Orlando, FL

I just had this problem with my 296.5 Barber. Had it covered in the dark with a heatmat. What I did and was instructed to do, is to carefully remove the soil around the seedling, and flip it upside down so it looks just like any other seedling around that age. I was also told to carefully remove the seed coat if possible, if not try in a couple of days. I used a toothpick or two for everything.

That plant is just beginning to vine in my garden and doing well :)

4/4/2016 7:09:54 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

send it to nasa...it might be an alien pumpkin...doesnt know what gravity is

4/4/2016 7:11:43 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

or alien melon..that almost ryhmes

4/4/2016 7:13:17 PM

Muddy Waters

It must be a Chinese
seed

4/4/2016 8:00:31 PM

aurora, IL

I had that happen before to me. Just next time plant the seed flat in the pot instead of vertical.

4/4/2016 8:43:27 PM

west central IN/East central IL

This happened a few yrs. back to corn in the fields as we got a cold spell just as the corn germinated and because of the soil being warmer deeper down, the corn grew down. A lot of farmers had to replant. So, the seed is responding to the warm soil below instead of the surface, where it should be. Just wondering what air temp.?

4/4/2016 10:00:18 PM

Central Illinois

Pictures

4/5/2016 7:43:56 AM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

Here are a couple of good reads on seed starting from SCGA.
http://www.stcroixgrowers.org/Seed_soak_experiment.pdf
http://www.stcroixgrowers.org/The_effect_of_temperature_on_time_to_emergence.pdf

And some more interesting testing info.
http://billsbigpumpkins.com/docs/WaitingforSpring.html

4/5/2016 11:54:51 AM