beezie

Hi all! This is my first time posting to this forum but I'm enjoying reading the threads. I have a small vegetable garden in which i grew butternut squashes this year. I saved the seeds as they were so delicious but really don't know what to do with them. When do I start them next year? And does anyone have storage tips? Thanks!

lspichkin

Hey beezie,

I have heard that it's difficult to save squash seeds due to their tendency to cross varieties without controlled pollination. But, if you're going to give it a try come back and let us know how it goes!

Basically, you would remove the seeds from the flesh and dry them out at room temperature. Label your seeds and keep them in cool, dry place until you're ready to use them. They can last quite a while kept like this - probably 3 or 4 years.

You can plant them in the ground in the spring once there is no more danger of frost. Or you can start them indoors in a pot a few weeks before this time and then transfer them outside once it's warm enough.

I love butternut squash - yum....
Check out our page on squash: All about Squash

beezie

Thank you! That is helpful. I've dried them out and am storing in a zip lock. Will plant in spring and let you know what happens. Exciting.

mor

l would also recomend drying them. let us know next time you plant them how its goes

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SugaredViolet

I'd store them in a paper envelope
Plastic can hold in residual moisture from the seeds and can lead to mold
Store the envelope in a cool dry, darkish place

fygar

I agree with SugaredViolet, if you keep them in a breathable container (such as an envelope), you shouldn't have an issue.

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Trackerway

I know I'm chiming in late, but I'm new to the forum. I was just wondering if you had planted your squash seeds this year and how did they do?

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rosy666

Save seeds from outstanding parents. Want to develop locally adapted strains that will perform better in your particular microclimate? Propagate the seed from your hardiest, most frost-resistant plants. Second, for fun. Gardeners who enjoy experimenting will find a world of challenge and satisfaction in trying different seed-saving and plant-crossing techniques, in watching subtle changes in the varieties they save and in keeping an eye out for unusually good new developments. It was an observant elderly gardener out for a walk who propagated the now popular Henderson Bush Lima — after discovering a volunteer specimen growing by the road.

Third, for preservation. When a certain old food-plant variety dies out, we've lost a part of the gene pool from which we might have retrieved valuable traits for breeding into new generations. Some hardy varieties of tomatoes, for instance, have been developed by introducing genes from small-fruited, seemingly worthless wild strains that carried genes for hardiness.

Then, too, if you prefer to plant untreated seed, or would like to increase your gardening independence or simply save money, seed saving should be high on your list of skills to learn. And it's not difficult to do. After all, generations of people who had no choice but to be self-reliant managed to keep seeds going with fewer resources and less understanding of the process than we have.
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kamran

This thread is very good; I like to post in this thread and enjoying a lot. I have a small garden in which I have grown spinach, tomatoes and lemon. It helps me to maintain my health and also helps me in saving. When you eat your own grew then you will feel very comfortable. To maintain eatables in garden is not an easy task to do but I have taken many tips from homesgardendirectory.com which really helps me in maintaining my garden.

rajasekar80

Every year a few gardeners ask about saving seed from their flowers and vegetables. We would not have the wonderful heirloom varieties if someone hadn’t kept the seeds year to year. Seed saving can be a rewarding and cost saving way to garden, but beware of the pitfalls.

Not every plant’s seeds are worth keeping. Hybrid plants are developed by crossing specific parent plants. Hybrids are wonderful plants but the seed is often sterile or does not reproduce true to the parent plant. Therefore, never save the seed from hybrids. Another major problem is some plants’ flowers are open pollinated by insects, wind or people. These plants include squash, cucumbers, melon, parsley, cabbage, chard, broccoli, mustard greens, celery, spinach, cauliflower, kale, radish, beets, onion, and basil. These plants cross with others within their family. The only way to maintain the original variety is to isolate by large distances. Isolation is often impossible or impractical in a home garden.
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