Stopping miniature pumpkin seed germination/pumpkin storage

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dsdooder5 Pikeville, KY May 15, 2012

I have began trying to germinate my miniature pumpkin seeds so I will have transplants in a couple weeks. Although, the growing season on my pumpkin seeds is 95 days. If I begin growing them now they will be ready to harvest before October and I have no way to store them. They have been in moist soil for 24 hours. Can I stop them from germinating and save the seeds for later germination or how can I store the pumpkins for an extended period of time until October.

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HoneybeeNC Charlotte, NC(Zone 7b) May 17, 2012

dsdooder5 - Once your seed has been moistened it will not be possible to stop germination. If you let them dry out, they will not sprout at a later date.

To store pumpkins for a later date you will need a cool storage area. A walk-in cooler such as restaurants have might work.

My suggestion is that you acquire fresh seed and start over.

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Doug9345 Durhamville, NY(Zone 5b) May 19, 2012

You could also pick the baby fruit off them for a month or so. Try eating them the same way that you would summer squash. Jack Be Little is C. pepo the same as zucchini or other summer squash. I don't know about other small pumpkins.

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microbiology1 Foxboro, MA May 20, 2012

You're in a warmer zone than me, but mini pumpkins have a very long shelf life. I bought 2 last october. I had to cut one open in April to get the seeds out because it still had not started to rot on its own. I wouldn't worry too much about storage. Just keep them dry and in the coolest place in your house and they should be fine. And don't assume they will be ready exactly at day 95. Harvest date varies largely by weather which you can't control anyway.

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1lisac Liberty Hill, TX(Zone 8a) May 20, 2012

Micro stole the words right off my keyboard! I usually cut the growing tip off to speed up ripening. As micro said the DTM is an estimate of when it will start producing not when it will stop. So you might get some ripe ones at 95 days others will come later. The only thing that has stopped mine from producing is a freeze.

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dsdooder5 Pikeville, KY May 21, 2012

Thank you all this really helps out alot!

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