If the pumpkin gets too warm after it is harvested for a long period of time the seeds can start to sprout. It is nothing to worry about. Sometimes it just happens even if they aren't kept too warm. Oh and since I am sure you are wondering too warm would be above around 70F.

It's got nothing to do with the fact they are from Hydro. Here's what I found. BTW Carolyn137 is a real expert when it comes to tomatoes. ----------->> * Posted by carolyn137 z4/5 NY (My Page) on Fri, Oct 6, 06 at 20:40 It's fairly common to find germinated seeds inside store tomatoes and it's b'c they've been held at cool temps for a very long time. The gold/red bicolors are also prone to germionating seeds inside the flesh. Yes, there is a germonation inhibitor in the gel sac around each seed but its purpose is in the natural life cycle of the tomato. Meaning, when fruits fall to the ground in the Fall that inhibitor prevents the seeds from germinating but come Spring when conditions are more favorable we see those germinated seeds as volunteers. Only a small percentage of those overwintered seeds end up as volunteers/ Carolyn You can read the entire thread http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tomato/msg101852437749.html

Followup on my original post. The seed I had in the oven weren't cooked, they just took two or three days later to sprout. Seven of the eight Ace 55s germinated, and four of the eight Yellow perfection seeds from 2002 sprouted. BTW, I have several packets of seeds from 2002 that still seem to be sprouting, but they take a bit longer than fresh seed and only have a 50% germination rate. They are Pennington brand, certified organic, and were grown by Genesis seeds in Israel. I have Chadwick Cherry, Fox Cherry, Moneymaker, and Matina. If anyone wants to take a chance on eight year old seeds and has any Neves Azorian or Black Ethiopian or just about any Black Tomato Seeds to trade let me know. I will trade you a whole unopened pack for about ten of the seeds I mentioned.

I had some corn cobs germinating in my compost pile, not the first time, but this time I planted them. They are not that big but do have tassles now. I wanted to see just what develops from them. All this time I thought seeds need a freeze cycle before they would germinate. Not these, lol.