Horticulture Questions and general Gardening

[Easy Bakes 253]

Was trying to grow some Acorn Squashs

can some one explaine whats happening.

A  few  weeks ago i  planted some acron squash seeds in an indoor flower pot.

fresh soi,l water ,near a window that gets plenty of afternoon sun as attested by the house plant that is growing like crazy there

I was wanting to get them started then move them out side when it gets some what cooler.

problem is none of them even sprouted.

So as a test to see if the seeds were bad i put some of them under the stairwell outside my door dureing these couple

weeks of rainy days we had. they sprouted with in 2 days and now are  going well. i just now need to water the heck out of them in the dog days of summer.

So why didnt he ones in the pot sprout?

  Edited June 13, 2011 by Easy Bakes  

[Meg 368]

What were the temperatures involved?

I know nothing about growing squash but I did find this:  How to Grow Acorn Squash

[Easy Bakes 253]

Hmm wonderif it was just too cool inside.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Probably, and not enough sun.  Acorn squash are hot summer plants.

[Easy Bakes 253]

It gets wierderer i put one seed in my house plants pot 2 days ago and it sprouted.

I wonder if the container i put them is was to small.

I did put this small container outside yesterday so we will see if its the heat that will sprout it.

[Sam 163]

I don't know what acorn squash is, but for most seeds size of container shouldn't really affect the seeds sprouting at least. It will affect the young plants if their roots get too crowded.

Seeds are normally influenced first and foremost by water, and also temperature. Seeds have their own internal energy store that carries them over the sprouting part of their life so don't depend on soil for nutrients for the initial sprouting. Some seeds require dark to germinate (like violas - I usually tie a thick piece of cardboard over the germination tray for these). Some like a period of cold before they will germinate (eg some spring flowers) and putting them in a fridge for a few weeks can help them germinate better (not a good idea for squash though).

Also age of seed affects germination (older seeds have a much lower success rate), smaller seeds than average are less successful than larger, plumper seeds of the same kind. Seeds being stored for a long time also need oxygen. I keep my self collected seeds in small jars with holes in the lids or envelopes.

Sometimes fungal infection can kill the new sprouts before they erupt from the soil - this usually depends on soil temperature.

The kind of squash that I would grow here are mainly dependent on temperature - they love the heat, so maybe it was too cold in your house on those few days (eg did you have air con on those days, or overcast weather?). But I guess it depends on a lot of factors. Maybe those first ones you took out were just the weakest seeds in the pack to start with.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Sam

I don't know what acorn squash is, but for most seeds size of container shouldn't really affect the seeds sprouting at least. It will affect the young plants if their roots get too crowded.

Seeds are normally influenced first and foremost by water, and also temperature. Seeds have their own internal energy store that carries them over the sprouting part of their life so don't depend on soil for nutrients for the initial sprouting. Some seeds require dark to germinate (like violas - I usually tie a thick piece of cardboard over the germination tray for these). Some like a period of cold before they will germinate (eg some spring flowers) and putting them in a fridge for a few weeks can help them germinate better (not a good idea for squash though).

Also age of seed affects germination (older seeds have a much lower success rate), smaller seeds than average are less successful than larger, plumper seeds of the same kind. Seeds being stored for a long time also need oxygen. I keep my self collected seeds in small jars with holes in the lids or envelopes.

Sometimes fungal infection can kill the new sprouts before they erupt from the soil - this usually depends on soil temperature.

The kind of squash that I would grow here are mainly dependent on temperature - they love the heat, so maybe it was too cold in your house on those few days (eg did you have air con on those days, or overcast weather?). But I guess it depends on a lot of factors. Maybe those first ones you took out were just the weakest seeds in the pack to start with.quote>

An acorn Squash

A tasty treat baked/w brown suger and peper.

Well the seeds were not from a pack. they were from a  squash that i got from someones garden dried for a while.

I thinki figured out what went wrong, even out side the seeds n the small pot didnt sprout. Think they got over

over watered and died,the small pot didnt have drainage. going to buy a new  big container to grow them in and transfer

the seedlings to the new big container.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Progress.
This was a week or so ago. its a lot biger now.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Congratulations!  I take it that you have not much gardening experience.

The clue is well drained but moist soil, with the proper nutrients (usually already there), sun and the right amount of heat.  You seem to have got it right.

Due to this season's early, wet, hot spring, many crops are coming in ahead of time.  For farmers who lease harvesting gear, well in advance (last year), this is going to be a scramble.  The strawberry season, normally two or three weeks, was nine days this year. 

People say that global warming is not having much effect, or doesn't exist.  Around here, you only have to ask the nearest farmer, who is probably the guy sitting next to you in the barber shop.  For the head-in-the-sand deniers, you will soon be but\ying Ontario grown oranges and other citrus, while the southern states convert to more tropical stuff like coffee and bananas.

[Easy Bakes 253]

It looks as though im going to have to move then out side even though getting to water them every day will be  pain

as the door to the balcony is hard to get thru with the TV table in front of it.

This happend over  saturday and sunday  while the AC was off.So i guess they need  it to be warmer then the 78 i keep the AC at.

All the seeds i planted in the new planter sprouted.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Yup, transplant time.  Remember, these are vines, so you could train them up or down some structure, like a trellis.  Don't let them dangle off the balcony though, someone may get brained when they get ripe.  They will probably be OK in the container you have them in, so I wouldn't distrub them unless you really have to.

Welcome to the green thumb club.

If you are going to have trouble getting water out there, look into self-watering gadgets.  Some are for houseplants, but you can probably get others at a co-op or farm supply.

[Easy Bakes 253]

they will stay in the pot they are in. I dont want to put them outside the front door

you dont know who will mess with them there, but my 1st floor patio  gets a lot of after noon sunshine

and is fenced in. just a pain to open the slideing glass door and  lock it all back up with the TV table in front of it.

mabye i can move the table forward some.

Or might try those watering orbs that let a bit of water out at a time.

 

btw we had a huge( 1 1/2 acres  vegie garden when i was a youngster i got to weed it 2 times a week.

grew,sweet corn, tomatoes,green& wax beans, green pepers, strawberrys. Rubarb, blue berrys, rasberrys, black berrys

all grew wild almost every were. so we picked that every year too.

the squashes are just an experiment for tomotoes next year.

[Eva2010 0]

i want to know more about this..

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

You can take the garden away from the gardener, but you can't take the gardener into the city without him wanting to garden.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Actualy i want to stop paying 3 bucks a pound for tomatoes.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

You should look into these newfangled hanging planters with the vine at the bottom and the roots above.  You could hang them up and have the 'matoes to hand.

[Easy Bakes 253]

May try that when its cooler.

[Sam 163]

Originally posted by: A Nonny Moose

You should look into these newfangled hanging planters with the vine at the bottom and the roots above.  You could hang them up and have the 'matoes to hand.

quote>

Probably not great for tomatoes, as they don't like getting the crown wet especially with soil contamination which will happen if they are hanging. They are susceptible to fungal and viral diseases. Other plants might be ok for that. I've seen bags you buy that are long cylinders and you hang them and cut slits to put strawberry plants in, but the plants hang from the side not the bottom. Personally I can't keep them well watered in the climate here.

I've had luck with some plants in hanging baskets with a similar method (but again hard to keep well watered). Before planting the top, cut slits in the lining at the side and poke herbs through so they hang out the sides. Then fill with potting mix and plant the top.  Another variation is to get one of those laundry hamper things (the short ones, line it with somthing and cut slits in the side of the lining in line with the mesh holes. Work up from the bottom, poke some fast growing plants through and fill with potting mix above, then plant the next layer up and so on.

EB I'd suggest investing in one or more self watering pots. I find they last for about a week between watering even here in the sub-tropics (the big ones, not the little ones). You can also get watering spikes for about a dollar or so. You screw on a soft drink bottle full of water, then poke the spike into the soil. There are also bag types.

At the moment I'm not having trouble with tomatoes (in winter of all times!). They've grown by the dozen from the compost and are starting to bear fruit (the soil I have atm is very sour and tomatoes are about the only things that like it). So far the possums haven't found them.

[Easy Bakes 253]

I think my planter is big enough for a few tomato plants and just buy some plastic dowls to tie them to.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Much progress on the Squash

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Wow!  Are you pinching off the flower buds, or is something wrong?  You should have had squash by now.  It is certainly a convincing foliage plant.

If you want another foliage plant, try sweet potatoes, but remember they are also vines.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Have not seen any flower buds yet unless the ends of the new growths are them.

not big enough to tell yet.

Edit: It will have some blooms today.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Bright yellow/orange squash flowers?  Or are these white?  I've seen both, and it depends on the variety.

Is it accessible to pollinators or will you be doing it yourself (need a feather)?

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: A Nonny Moose

Bright yellow/orange squash flowers?  Or are these white?  I've seen both, and it depends on the variety.

Is it accessible to pollinators or will you be doing it yourself (need a feather)?

quote>

Looks like they will be yellow.they didnt open today though, but i see several more coming along

No its outside but i have not seen any bees around lately.

Flower pod

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Yep, seems like yellow.  In your neck of the woods, it may be too late for pollinating insects.  I'd find a feather, just in case.

[Easy Bakes 253]

I have some q tips which should work.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

They may, but be very gentle.  You might want to ravel them up a bit.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: A Nonny Moose

They may, but be very gentle.  You might want to ravel them up a bit.

quote>

mabye unravel.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

I think we are in  agreement.  You don't want the tip to be too firm.  The stamens are quite delecate.

[Easy Bakes 253]

That one bud fell off, but a couple dozen others have formed.