Cathedral Bells germination rate: negative 35

I can't seem to get these blasted thing to grow!! I've tried for two years and went through two packages of seeds, all with the same result; mushy, sticky outer coating on the seed, and white pussy goop on the inside. I check them every two weeks and it's so gross to see that stuff ooze out of the seeds! I follow every direction verbatium! "nick seed with sharp knife, place seed in loose soil and barely cover. Keep it upright so that it doesn't get water-logged and keep it warm; 70-80 degrees while keeping moist but not wet" What am I doing wrong?! I have a heating pad and a grow lamp, what gives? Any suggestions out there? Sure would love to grow the plant instead of plant pus:(

I'm confused, what are Cathedral Bells? I'm thinking Campanula, but then the seeds would be way too tiny to nick. Do you have the Latin name off the packet? John

Could it be Cobaea scandens? If so I've never nicked the seeds, just sown them in a pot.

Yes, Cathedral Bells is definitely Cobaea Scandens...trust me, they're taking over my greenhouse! Also, I've never seen anyone say to nick the seeds...I'm sure that is your problem Arianna. (Was that in the book you bought the seeds from? or from someone who sent them to you in a trade?) 80* may be too high a temp also, 70* should be sufficient.
My seeds all germed very well. There is a Cobaea "alba" that is a white variety (actually greenish-white) and I've had terrible germination with it...out of 35 seeds or so 3 germed and only one of those has any growth to brag about.

I wish I had saved some seed Arianna, I would be sending you some to start over with.

Hey guys,
I got my info from 2 sources, Powell's "From Seed to Bloom" and from the place where I got the seeds (Swallowtail Gardens). So, I don't know. 2 different sources tell me to do the same thing with something I've never grown before, I just do what they say. Thanks for the info, but does anyone know what the heck the goop I was talking about might be. I'm curious to know whether or not that's part of the seed's growing process, or a nasty lil' fungus. THX again:)

It sounds like just plain ol' rot Arianna. I know when I've had seeds rot like that they get mushy and "ooze". Are you using the heating pad AND the grow lamp at the same time? Maybe it is just getting too much heat. Do you have any more seeds left? If so, I'd start them again, without nicking them. Wonder if it's possible to safely send you a couple of mine...I have some I've kept trimmed back (about 4 to 6 inches tall) and in 4 inch pots...think they'd make it thru the mail system? If so, let me know...you deserve some for what you've been thru!

I just stick the seeds into the potting mix, leaving a little of the seed sticking out. They need to "stand" up, and my heat mat is never set over 72*F. I always have good germination.
Shoe, they ought to make it if you wrap the roots good.