How do you save seeds from squash to later plant?
Question:
How do I save seeds from fresh squash to use for planting later without them rotting?
Answer:
Lynne M. Holland, Horticulture and Social Media Professional
Seed saving is both an art and a science. We have a bulletin on the topic Seed Saving for Home Gardeners that explains the general process.
Some things to consider when saving seeds include:
- Is this a fruit/plant that is open pollinated? If so, the seed may not produce the same fruit variety as new genes have been introduced.
- Is this plant/fruit a hybrid variety? If so, then the seed may be sterile or it may revert to one of its parental varieties.
- Do you have the space to store it correctly for the time frame until planting? Cool and dry are the key words here.
- Is this a local fruit/plant? If it was grown somewhere else it may not be hardy in Maine. Thinks bought in the supermarket are often grown in milder climates and may need a longer growing season than we can provide.