Yes sometimes, although one of my zukes popped up in 4 days, prompting me to have to cover against a late spring snow. And perhaps not deep enough if they are popping up. Or maybe too much perlite and coming up with perlite...

Dan

there is no perlite , they are planted in garden soil outside - direct saw in garden beds. I will push the down an inch and water again

Jolly,
2 questions 1) Does it look like they may have been dug up from anything? 2) If so take a look at the seed and make sure that the insides havnt been eaten, either by squirrel or bird. The only reason I ask is becuase this has happened to me, if the birds found them there would be a very small hole in the ground and if a squirrel found them it would be very noticeable.

Are the cukes nearer the outside or south side of the bed, or in less shade? Cucurbit germination is very sensitive to soil temperature. Try using a soil or kitchen thermometer to compare.

the seeds that come out of the ground are completely intact, not even braking open as if they wanted to germinate. I put three seeds in each mound. At least 1-2 of each come out.

Cuces and squash seeds are along the long side/ front of a very long bed - 20ft - facing east and gets full sun from sun rise till 2-3 pm

My dogs guard the area so no critters can get to the beds, and the dogs do not get in the beds (we are lucky)

The only creatures that run around are lizzards. But I dont think they cause the "lift". I will check the temps tomorrow when I am gardening

good news -- I see germination on 80% of the seeds

watered and fertilized them

note for self -- be patient

Thanks

Be patient with the fertilizer too or you'll burn those tender young plants to death. All seedlings have all the nutrients they need for a good start in their cotyledons.

I just sprinkle them with normal strength solution of seeweed

I have the opposite problem. My squash seeds popped up right away, but it's taken 2 weeks for just one of the 8 cucumber seeds to push through. But I have a feeling it's my fault- I probably put the seeds in the ground too early. The weather has been pretty consistently 70s/50s.