Will squash seeds germinate in the dark?

[Nik]

Not having much luck with the early courgettes I have planted - possibly because the porch where I start my seedlings off is unheated at night and doesn't get enough sun in the day. Last year I had the same problem so I chitted my seeds in wet tissue paper in a bag in the airing cupboard. It worked a treat and I ate courgettes all summer long.
I'm planning two kinds of squash, courgettes and cucumbers this year, but I'm wondering, instead of the faff of chitting the seeds and then planting them in compost, could I not just plant the seeds in compost as normal and then put the pots in the airing cupboard to germinate? Has anyone tried this?

[Jelliebabe]

If they are in soil they ARE in the dark - so as long as you take them out when they pop up this should be fine. They definately need some heat though so the airing cupboard should be fine!

[chris]

You could do yep. A couple of my packets say do not exclude light, but when the seed is under the compost it's in the dark anyway. My squash are in a heated prop, so an airing cupboard is a similar environment.

[zazen999]

Absolutely - as soon as you see green though, get them out - check morning and evening and don't let them completely dry out.

[Pumpkin Becki]

As Zazen says, you must get them out of the airing cupboard as soon as you see the seedlings breaking the soil surface. You mustn't deprive the seedlings of light, because they'll get leggy and as the stems are quite delicate at this early stage, they can be easily damaged.

Personally, I don't bother with chitting, heated props or similar, I simply sow 2 seeds, on their edges, in a 5" pot and put them on my study windowsill until they are big enough to start hardening them off outside .

[Nik]

Great news, cheers. I'll have a seed session tonight then.

[Shadylane]

I always do mine in the airing cupboard - they're usually through in a couple of days.

[bearded bloke]

Similar to Becki,I put mine in modules of damp potting compost (sown on edge) then cover with a clear plastic lid & leave in unheated greenhouse,no need to water again until after the cover is removed as the condensates drip back into the compost (lazy method )

[Lotsaveg]

Airing cupboard for me too in mid Jan in 2" pots. Then into a propagator next to an oil heater in the greenhouse, potted up into 6" pots early march and planted out into the garden today with clusters of flowers on each. Fingers crossed there's no more frosty nights!