I've seen it mentioned. What is the trick to help gourd seeds germinate with tea?
Thanks in advance.
gourd seeds, ice tea...germination trick?
apparently the tea penetrates better than plain water, be sure NOT to use sugar. John
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Guest
I was told to trim the edge of the seed carefully to expose the kernel just a tiny bit. Water gets in faster that way and it makes it easier for the sprout to get out of the shell. Seemed to work for me.
Ian
Ian
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
There are many tricks mentioned to make gourds sprout. My opinion is that heat is the best trick (90deg heat will make them sprout quickly) but 60 to 70 deg soil will not cause them to sprout quickly. A thing worth mentioning is that if you plant the seeds directly into the garden, the seeds know when the soil is warm enough, and they may lay there for a couple weeks, but when the garden soil is warm enough for gourds, the seeds will come up and do very well..I am not a fan of greenhouse gourds. Every time I tried greenhouse gourds, I replanted them into the garden, the gourds that came up naturally did just as well or better. Starting seeds indoors does not work for me, it is no difference at my place.
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Guest
I think starting them indoors is more for folk in northern area that havea shorter growing season. I started mine indoors early and put them out but what the rabbits didn't eat, a late frost got. I'm on round 2.. 
Ian
Ian
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Bernie Nikolai
- Posts: 402
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:44 pm
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta
This worked well for me. Make a strong ordinary tea (Orange Peko, English Breakfast, Earl Grey, it doesn't really matter). Once it cools to room temperature, dump in the gourd seeds, and let them soak for 36 to 48 hours. The tannic acid in the tea seems to inactivate the sprouting inhibitors in the gourd seeds. I got 60-70 % of the gourd seeds to sprout when I soaked them in tea, vrs. zero percent when I didn't soak them. Being the bright young lad that I am, soaking in tea is better('
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Then plant them, but HEAT is very important. Mine sprouted well when I put them in containers on the basement hot water heater. A thermometer said the temperature was about 85F in the soil. Keep in mind that in northern locations like mine, the only way to get gourds maturing is to grow them in a greenhouse.
')Then plant them, but HEAT is very important. Mine sprouted well when I put them in containers on the basement hot water heater. A thermometer said the temperature was about 85F in the soil. Keep in mind that in northern locations like mine, the only way to get gourds maturing is to grow them in a greenhouse.
He who harbors the nesting bird shall have health and happiness all the year
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starling shooter
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- Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2003 7:43 pm
- Location: Central MO
Thanks for the info....
Randy....how did your gourds wind up doing last year? #, size, thickness.
I tried some different genetics last year (horizontals) and I got some nice ones but a lot of variety in shapes. Previous year was much cooler and wetter and most that I grew (70) were really good. I got 25 or so good ones but threw out 40 nice ones that rotted since they grew late in the season when it got cooler.
Randy....how did your gourds wind up doing last year? #, size, thickness.
I tried some different genetics last year (horizontals) and I got some nice ones but a lot of variety in shapes. Previous year was much cooler and wetter and most that I grew (70) were really good. I got 25 or so good ones but threw out 40 nice ones that rotted since they grew late in the season when it got cooler.