Some newbie questions about gardening

[harsky]

First time poster here but I did spend several years growing some Cucurbita ficifolia (aka shark fin melon) from some seeds that my relatives gave me. I stay in the north east of Scotland in several years ago, and it's a case of "sometimes it grows and sometimes it doesn't" where the day I plant it in pots is the nicest sunniest day and the next week the frost sets in during April. So here comes the newbie question.

I've seen those heated propagator and since I don't have any greenhouse or even a suitable area where I can place plants on a windowsill behind a window, I thought that they can be a decent purchase where I can give some of the melon seeds a kickstart. Can seeds be germinated in a heated propagator but in a place with absolute zero daylight (ie, my garage which doesn't have much sunlight)? If that's the case, then can I save myself some money and germinate some seed in my garage which is very dark but is a little warm?

Thanks in advance for any answers!

[Dusty Rhodes]

Welcome to the Grapevine.

Seeds will germinate in the dark, but will need proper light once they sprout. The amount of light and heat required varies from variety to variety.

[veggiechicken]

Hello harsky and welcome from me too. If you have an airing cupboard you may be able to start your seeds off in there but as Dusty says ^^^^^ once they'v germinated they need light, plenty of it, otherwise your plants will grow lanky.
Would you put your location into your profile please as it helps us to understand your local growing conditions.

[Kestrel]

Hi harsky, welcome. If you put your location on your profile it will help people with any questions you have. Scotland is very different to Essex, for example. (In so many ways)

You could germinate some, not all, seeds in a garage but if you haven't go somewhere light and warm to grow your seedlings on (esp. melons) then I would avoid a propagator. You'll have a lot of early germinating tender plants that will simply not thrive or even just die.

Edit. Beaten to it by VC ^^^ (as usual... )

[Two_Sheds]

I think you've got the message now ... plants need light. Lots of light.

[northepaul]

Wot they all said ^


It might be a bit early to be germinating seeds for melons?

[harsky]

Thanks for the reply! Yeah, I should've put in my location. I also know it's a little too early to ask these sort of question but it can't hurt to do some research. So let me see if I got this right. Dark room + little warmth (from a warm garage or propagator) = okay until the first shoots appear THEN I have to move the pots out in the sunshine?

Reason why I'm so fixated on germinating in the garage is the fact that I'm still at home with the parents and my mum can go mad at the thought of mud past the front door lol.

[rustylady]

What do you intend to grow Harksy? If it's melons then you don't want to be sowing until about April or May next year, and they will grow better in a greenhouse than in the garden.

Also buy some multi-purpose compost for your seeds and explain to Mum that it's not mud, it's clean and sterilised.

[harsky]

It's shark fin melons which is like a squash. Also, I have no greenhouse...

[Potstubsdustbins]

Hi Harsky and welcome to the mad house, google Grow Light Garden. I have one and found it very useful earlier this year.

If you need ancillary heat check out reptile heat cables/mats.

Colin