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Parker, Co

We are from the old school. We always file seeds before planting. We always plant pointy end down. But....what is new school? Anyone not filing the seeds? planting sideways? I would guess if you don't file they may take longer to germinate? Does planting sideways help the seed coat to come off?

4/24/2016 10:51:06 AM

Germany

- Seed flat, covered with some sand, and then the top layer of starter mix. This helps with keeping the seed coat underground (it will stay moist and soft) and the seedling will pop out of the shell without any troubles (in most cases). Last year and this year I haven´t had to help any seedling out of the shell.

- Since 2 years I only file the edges of those seeds which have a thick shell (haven´t filed the thin white seeds). Haven´t had any troubles with this method.

4/24/2016 11:29:10 AM

Colorado

I file a lot and plant pointy end down. This year I compacted the potting soil. All eight seedlings shed the seed coat cleanly leaving the shell in the dirt.

4/24/2016 12:09:11 PM

Upa Creek, MO

I'm a filer, maybe even an over filer especially with thick shells. I also like to lay it flat, but only because I use a heat mat and the temp will be uniform throughout the seed vs pointy end down. Excluding 2013 I've had high germ rates.

4/24/2016 12:31:36 PM

Jericho Vermont

Sand seed edges here(white seeds less, dark seeds more and long gourds even more) soak in 50/50 water and hydrogen peroxide 3 hours for pumpkins and 8 hours for long gourds. Plant seeds flat. Will shed most of pumpkin seed coats and some long gourd seed coats.

4/24/2016 12:47:48 PM

Alex, IN

I file the seeds, if they are the brown seed coat, I feel that the white seed coats are thin enough that filing is un-needed.

I then soak them in a weak seaweed solution for 12 hours on top of our water heater. They are then planted sideways, this helps keep the seed coat in the soil so I don't have to remove it manually. They are kept at 90-95 F. Most are above ground in less than 72 hours.

4/24/2016 2:28:56 PM

Parker, Co

Thanks for the responses. Certainly food for thought. We have always had good germination rates but we OFTEN have to help get the seed coat off. We will have to experiment this Winter.

4/24/2016 4:24:05 PM

Ireland

I compacted the soil after sowing point down this year and for the first time ive have had no problems with the seed coats removing themselves

4/24/2016 5:29:27 PM

Waynesboro, Virginia

The very first year I grew AG pumpkin I saw an unfiled seed emerge from the ground and struggle to get out of its shell.I never helped it out and it took a while but finally got out. That plant seemed to be deformed from that point on like something had changed and it never reached its potential.

4/24/2016 5:32:10 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

I file and soak in water for about 3 hours. I germinate in moist paper towels, placed in a zip lock baggie. I add heat until germination. I then plant the root pointing down in the pot/potting soil. Sometime the seed tip is pointing down and sometimes the seed is planted sideways, depending on the direction the root tip comes out of the seed. If that make sense?

4/24/2016 6:59:53 PM

Omaha, Ne.

no filing here. just stuck them in not sure which way. they all came up. But if I payed a bunch maybe I would of done things different:}}

4/24/2016 7:07:31 PM

Cheshire Ma USA

Always file and soak [in something] flat now as they almost always shed the seed coat on their own but it takes longer to fully come out of the soil. At first did the point down but needed to help them shed the seed coat 80% of the time.

4/24/2016 8:43:02 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

File and plant flat. I was td by an old timer that by planting the seed flat, to forced the seed down into proper position by itself and made it easier to shed the seed coat/shell.

4/24/2016 11:42:33 PM

Bethlehem CT

I lay them flat and I no longer file. They still germinate in 3-4 days. Like Luke said, I like to know what the temperature is around the seed. Laying them flat and nearer to the surface it is easier to monitor the exact conditions of temperature and moisture. I have turned a few seeds to mush over the years if i get a seeds growing tip too warm and moist. The soil temperature in my set up can be 10 degrees difference over the course of an inch. If I had a thermostatically controlled heat mat, this might not be an issue.

4/25/2016 7:31:37 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I use a sharp knife and just scrape off the edges. Then I scrape off some of the sides of the brown seed coat to give water a little easier chance to get in. Then they go in the Jiffy Mix flat

4/25/2016 7:43:10 AM

Muddy Waters

I dont file but i soak them longer then I used to 4-6 hours . plant them on a angle or straight down. when it pops up I remove shell with pliers gently. never hurt one yet.

4/25/2016 7:58:43 AM

Colorado

I borrow My better halfs emery board.Works great.Make sure you wash the pumpkin shavings off or youll get busted

4/25/2016 11:10:20 AM

Stanwood, Washington

I used to plant pointy end down and My seed coats always came out of the ground with the plant and had to be pried off. I switched a couple years ago to planting flat and i haven't had to peel a seed coat off since.

4/26/2016 5:31:50 PM

Parker, Co

Yep, I think we will have to try the planting seeds sideways idea! Thanks again for all the great input everyone!

4/26/2016 8:32:23 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

I would rather have that seed coat out of the way... filing works great...just like toe nails...the coat comes off better when moist... :0 )

4/27/2016 9:25:09 AM

East Tennessee

I did my melons flat this time. Worked like a charm. Only had 2 come up with coats on but they were so lose they came right off without any effort. I will do it this way from now on.

4/27/2016 10:28:04 AM

Ontario

I would listen to the growers that plant pointy end down.. No stress on stem and you can pull the seed coat off gently with tweezers

4/29/2016 9:20:19 PM

Ontario

I would listen to the growers that plant pointy end down.. No stress on stem and you can pull the seed coat off gently with tweezers

4/29/2016 9:20:53 PM