Saving squash seed

tam91 · August 21, 2010

I hope this is the right section of the forum for this question.

I've never saved any seed - but I now have a Red Kuri squash - supposed to be a very good variety (we'll see, I havn't eaten it yet). I'd like to save the seed, and maybe be able to offer some on the trade forums.

Can anyone tell me how best to go about it? Or point me at a resource?

Thanks!

tam91 · August 21, 2010

Well, I found something that said just dry them out.

But darn, rats, phooey - I bet I can't save these. My friend grew this one, and had all sorts of squash around.

Since it's a winter squash, I presume zucchini etc. aren't a problem for crossing. But she had some wierd hard little black thing, and I'm afraid he might be.

My vine looks so horrendous, I doubt I'm going to get any fruit. I guess I'll see, but I really doubt it

mjc · August 21, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by tam91

Since it's a winter squash, I presume zucchini etc. aren't a problem for crossing. But she had some wierd hard little black thing, and I'm afraid he might be.

Nope...not quite the way of it.

There are 3 main squash species, pepo, maixima and moscheta (there is a 4th, mixta, but it isn't all that common). Most of the summer squash are actually eaten immature and they are mostly pepo, same as many pumpkins.

Red kuri is a maxima, Hubbard, Kabocha, Dill's Atlantic Giant are more maximas.

The species won't easily interbreed, but more than one variety of the same species will readily cross. So if you could find some of the other squash nearby, we may be able to figure out if they are worth saving to trade.

tam91 · August 22, 2010

Oh wonderful, glad to hear there's hope.

OK, she has zucchini. We think these other things are summer squash - when small, they look just like summer squash to me, but she forgot to pick them and they ended up about a foot long, yellow, with bumps all over them. I sitll think they're summer squash - they remind me of when zucchini grow into baseball bats.

The others - no clue what they are, I've never seen anything like it. Shaped like pattypan perhaps. Maybe 5 inches in diameter - and black. Ugly actually.

I'll have to keep asking her what they're like when she eats them. Also, I'll try to get some photos.

I would really appreciate your help - I was really hoping to save seed, and my vines look horrible, I really doubt I'll get my own fruit.

I could save seed from some tomatoes, but I haven't bagged blossoms or anything. I also don't have anything terribly interesting this year.

**carolyn137** · August 22, 2010

Tam, when there's even one iota of info that says the squash seeds MAY be crossed if it were me I wouldn't bother saving the seed.

If it were some rare squash variety that only TWO folks on the face of the planet were growing, ahem, it might be worth it, but seeds for Red Kuri squash are very very available at many seed sites.

For many years I grew lots and lots of squash varieties in the same season, and being aware of what could cross with what and having zero interest in hand pollinating squash blossoms, which takes some getting used to, buying new seed when the last of my purchased seed was done was IMO the best way to go.

tam91 · August 22, 2010

Sigh. I imagine you're right.

It's just the only thing I could think of that I could save seed from really, grr. Well, maybe next year.

rxkeith · August 22, 2010

if you do save seeds, rinse them off good. i use a wire basket for larger seeds. let them drip dry, and dump them on newspaper or paper plates to dry for a few weeks.

i have several volunteer squash growing in my garden this year that came up from compost. a couple summer type squash on the edge of the tomato patch have been a pleasant surprise. when small it looks like a yellow crook neck, only its more light green when small. it becomes yellow as it matures, and it has warty skin. i'm saving seed on the chance since it blossomed first before the other squash got going, i may have something of the same type next year. also growing are some butter cup, and offspring of a red kabocha type squash i purchased last fall. so far they are a yellowish orange color. no idea how they will taste yet.
any saved seeds of squash unless they are bagged or isolated should only be used for experimental back yard grow outs. i wouldn't trade them.
sometimes its just fun to see what you get.

keith

tam91 · August 23, 2010

My friend has misc. squash out of her compost pile too. Well bummer, but I'm glad I learned before I saved the seeds (or traded them!).

Next year, I'm going to try the squash again. It's the only one I have, and my adjacent neighbors don't grow any. I think there may be a pumpkin field down the road.

Is that isolated enough?

August 21, 2010	#1
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	Saving squash seed I hope this is the right section of the forum for this question. I've never saved any seed - but I now have a Red Kuri squash - supposed to be a very good variety (we'll see, I havn't eaten it yet). I'd like to save the seed, and maybe be able to offer some on the trade forums. Can anyone tell me how best to go about it? Or point me at a resource? Thanks!

August 22, 2010	#5
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Tam, when there's even one iota of info that says the squash seeds MAY be crossed if it were me I wouldn't bother saving the seed. If it were some rare squash variety that only TWO folks on the face of the planet were growing, ahem, it might be worth it, but seeds for Red Kuri squash are very very available at many seed sites. For many years I grew lots and lots of squash varieties in the same season, and being aware of what could cross with what and having zero interest in hand pollinating squash blossoms, which takes some getting used to, buying new seed when the last of my purchased seed was done was IMO the best way to go. __________________ Carolyn

August 22, 2010	#7
rxkeith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Back in da U.P. Posts: 1,840	if you do save seeds, rinse them off good. i use a wire basket for larger seeds. let them drip dry, and dump them on newspaper or paper plates to dry for a few weeks. i have several volunteer squash growing in my garden this year that came up from compost. a couple summer type squash on the edge of the tomato patch have been a pleasant surprise. when small it looks like a yellow crook neck, only its more light green when small. it becomes yellow as it matures, and it has warty skin. i'm saving seed on the chance since it blossomed first before the other squash got going, i may have something of the same type next year. also growing are some butter cup, and offspring of a red kabocha type squash i purchased last fall. so far they are a yellowish orange color. no idea how they will taste yet. any saved seeds of squash unless they are bagged or isolated should only be used for experimental back yard grow outs. i wouldn't trade them. sometimes its just fun to see what you get. keith

August 23, 2010	#8
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	My friend has misc. squash out of her compost pile too. Well bummer, but I'm glad I learned before I saved the seeds (or traded them!). Next year, I'm going to try the squash again. It's the only one I have, and my adjacent neighbors don't grow any. I think there may be a pumpkin field down the road. Is that isolated enough?