Put the seeds in water ... the theory is that duff ones float, fertile ones don’t.
Works with squashes anyway.
Update time. The recently purchased water melon seeds didn't germinate. Bought a supermarket honeydew melon, retrieved approx 200 seeds from it and all bar one floated. Back to square one!!!
Update on the update! My thanks to Obelixx. Followed the advice and went mail order with www.magicgardenseeds as they were the only one of the 5 that put together a mixture of varieties whereas the others only sold one variety at a time. I received Cantaloupe Melon 'Charentais' (Cucumis Melo); Altai muskmelon (Cucumis Melo); Melon 'Blenheim Orange' (Cucumis Melo) and Watermelon 'Cream of Saskatchewan' (Citrullus Lanatus). Five seeds in three of the packs and 9 in one. I'm overloaded now! I have to say the presentation of their packs was top of the range and the accompanying information too. I am so used to being given stuff in plastic bags and brown paper bags that it was a real treat to receive such an attractive package. I ordered on Tuesday and received my package on Friday from Germany, no complaints there. Funny thing was though that on the Tuesday morning after my usual morning inspection of what seeds had appeared overnight I had given up on the one packet of water melon seeds that I had sourced from ever germinating. That evening, after placing the order two of them had germinated. Sods law.
Let us know how they grow please. Must admit I've been impressed with prompt delivery and good packaging from the 2 or 3 new sites I've tried this year.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
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The recently purchased water melon seeds didn't germinate.
Bought a supermarket honeydew melon, retrieved approx 200 seeds from it and all bar one floated. Back to square one!!!
The racks are at half to 2/3 full around this area.
My thanks to Obelixx. Followed the advice and went mail order with www.magicgardenseeds as they were the only one of the 5 that put together a mixture of varieties whereas the others only sold one variety at a time. I received Cantaloupe Melon 'Charentais' (Cucumis Melo); Altai muskmelon (Cucumis Melo); Melon 'Blenheim Orange' (Cucumis Melo) and Watermelon 'Cream of Saskatchewan' (Citrullus Lanatus). Five seeds in three of the packs and 9 in one. I'm overloaded now!
I have to say the presentation of their packs was top of the range and the accompanying information too. I am so used to being given stuff in plastic bags and brown paper bags that it was a real treat to receive such an attractive package. I ordered on Tuesday and received my package on Friday from Germany, no complaints there.
Funny thing was though that on the Tuesday morning after my usual morning inspection of what seeds had appeared overnight I had given up on the one packet of water melon seeds that I had sourced from ever germinating. That evening, after placing the order two of them had germinated. Sods law.