Sounds cool there unless you have a greenhouse or other methods where you can control the soil temperature. Unless it's a cool weather crop, just about all vegetable seeds will germinate within a week at 80 - 90 degree soil temperatures. This is how greenhouses who sell vegetable seedlings start their seeds.

Check out the Seed Starting Forum here at GardenWeb, they'll inform you of all you need to know about the topic:

Here is a link that might be useful: Growing from Seed

Ditto what Violet wrote... once the temps are warmer, the seeds will germinate. I had the same problem here in L.A. I planted the seeds (in pots) when we had a heatwave, and as soon as I placed the pots out to sit in the sun, the weather started to cool. It took a long while, but some of the seeds finally started to sprout. About a month ago, I potted up those seedlings into larger pots. In the past few days, I've found those same seeds which I planted about two months ago now sprouting, if that makes sense. It's been warming up here though... I hope this helps! Barbara

Thanks for the info. I just wasn't quite sure, because my long bean seeds sprouted in just a little over a week, even with the cool weather.

The way I do it is to wrap some seeds in a clean damp wash cloth, and let the seeds germinate first. Open and rinse the cloth every day or two to make sure no molds grow, and to check for sprouting. Keep the rolled up washcloth (or paper towel) in a WARM spot and do not let it dry out. It takes about a week if it is warm enough. Then you can plant the pre-sprouted seeds in a pot and keep it warm and moist and under sunlight or flourescent light for a good 12 to 16 hours a day. (not 24 hours, since they need to "sleep") You do not need it to be as warm at night. Wait till the secondary leaves are about an inch diameter or when the weather is warm, and transplant very carefully without hurting the roots.

....More to go with the last posting... I am in Upstate NY and I start my seeds around May 10. It takes a long growing season. Also, when potting the sprouted seeds, use 4 to 5 inch pots, and do not disturb the roots when transplanting.

I'm in Los Angeles and just planted some fresh Winter Melon seeds into a pot outdoors. The weather is about 70+ and will be for another week it seems. Is this too cool for the seeds? Is this too late in the season?

it's been 3 weeks for me trying to germinate these winter melon seeds. I don't know what's wrong, me or them. Kept them submerged in a paper-towel in warm water for a few days, then transferred the same wet paper-towel into an open ziplock baggie to sit on my directTV cable box (very warm) and now the outer coating is so soft I can peel it off with my nail. Still no sprout though. I think I might throw one in some soil and see what happens.