sprouting squash in dark warm room

londonTiger

Hi

I bought some heirloom winter squash seeds from the real seed company and the labels suggested that the seeds need a minimum of 24 degrees to sprout.

Obviously it's still quite chilly so I was thinking of putting them in my hot water tank room which is quite warm and let them sprout there. bviously there's no light there - will the plants die after sprouting if they come out in a dark room?

I will check the daily of course and move any sprouted ones to the light.

2nd question, suppose they come out in the warm rom and they're moved to the windowside - 15-20 degrees will they die shortly after as it's chilly or grow now they are out?

DebtFree2012

No idea but give it a go and find out

TonyMMM

Seems very early to be planting squash seeds - Where are they eventually going to grow - in a greenhouse or outdoors ?

londonTiger

TonyMMM wrote: »

Seems very early to be planting squash seeds - Where are they eventually going to grow - in a greenhouse or outdoors ?

outdoors.......

TonyMMM

You would be planting them out after the last frosts, which (depending on where you are) could be a long time off yet.

I would be planting courgette/pumpkin and squash seeds indoors in late April, so that they are ready to plant out in late May/early June.

They will be sown in pots and put on a warm windowsill to germinate - once they do (usually within 7-14 days) they grow very quickly.

Way too early yet....

londonTiger

what happens if it's too early? is it just a logistical issue where they will grow huge indoors and will become unmanagable but te time the wather has warmed up enough.

Or is it a case of the plants getting off timed and not fruiting due to irrigular sprouting?

DaftyDuck

Growing seed early does not give bigger, more fruitful plants, it gives etiolated, weak growth which is about 231% more likely to die from damping off.

If you have absolutely ideal conditions (so, a heated, artificially lit propagator in a sterile environment, followed by a humidity-controlled, artificially-lit, heat-regulated greenhouse, you may get away with it. But, and airing cupboard in the dark is pretty much a non-starter for squash seeds. The first 'leaves' that burst through that hard seed require light (amongst other factors) in order to burst out.

There really, really is almost no advantage whatsoever to planting seed more than a week or two earlier. The only reason I have done it over the decades is to reduce and spread the workload. Seldom works. If you have only a few seeds, stick to the recommended sowing dates.

24° is warm, even for squash. They'll germinate at a warm room temperature, and not really mind a lower temperature too much. Dark, they'll hate. Unless they're Vampire Squash!

londonTiger

ok shall i just keep these winter squash planted in the pots and bring them up to the windowseill - nature will take care of itself and they will geminate when its warm enough.

Shall I put my chillis in the warm room? Will ecayenne chils benefit from germinating early?

DaftyDuck

It's not that much too early to be planting chilli seeds. A warm, light room is better than the airing cupboard. If you haven't got a propagator, stick a clear poly bag over the pot/tray, but let air percolate.

I plant my squash in April and May, so beginning of March is too early by my book. If they are planted, so be it. Stick them on a windowsill, don't give them much water. If they aren't planted, wait.

What is the exact variety, just to be sure?

londonTiger

DaftyDuck wrote: »

It's not that much too early to be planting chilli seeds. A warm, light room is better than the airing cupboard. If you haven't got a propagator, stick a clear poly bag over the pot/tray, but let air percolate.

I plant my squash in April and May, so beginning of March is too early by my book. If they are planted, so be it. Stick them on a windowsill, don't give them much water. If they aren't planted, wait.

What is the exact variety, just to be sure?

boston squash
Burgess Vine Buttercup

DaftyDuck

OK, nothing too exotic. I'd have sown them in April or early May, warm greenhouse or windowsill, 4" pot, one seed per pot, seed on its side, keep moist but never wet, bright light (but not scorching sun) as soon as seed is germinated. Plant out when well rooted (doesn't take long, they grow like ****) in well-manured, rich soil (you can prepare the bed now). I grow mine onto a wigwam frame, so they climb (doesn't suit all types, but most love it). I uploaded a photo on here a couple of years ago... see if I can find it...

Just in my back garden, like this...., round behind my kitchen window...



Um...:p no... that's where I got the idea from, sadly...



... but that's mine, just put on the frame. Bit wilted from having the frame bunged in after planting squash some weeks earlier, but they perked up with water. One massive advantage to the frame is you can leave them dangling straight through the autumn, harvest when you want.