How to collect seeds from zucchini

Many gardeners are wary of the seeds sold in stores and markets, preferring to collect the seeds of crops grown on their own land. If you want to collect seeds from zucchini, you should know a few basic rules that will help you to collect quality seeds and in future to obtain from them a good harvest.

Instruction

1. Zucchini is a cross-pollinated culture, therefore, to get zucchini seeds, you should plant next plant of the same variety. Otherwise, the result may be unexpected. For example, instead of the expected striped zucchini from the resulting seeds will grow the most common. Zucchini seeds can be obtained in the result of artificial breeding.
2. The period of vegetation in the zucchini takes about 100-115 days. After the ovaries are formed, must be at least 60 days, so you can leave the squash on the seeds.
3. To accelerate the maturation of the zucchini that you plan to leave for seeds, presidnete main stem at the stage of budding plants. This will allow to obtain larger fruits to obtain the seeds. Reduce twice the amount of dressing for those plants that you leave in the seeds. Place to collect seeds 1-2 zucchini per plant. Choose healthy, beautiful vegetables that are typical of the variety in shape and colouring.
4. To check the maturity of the tavern and his willingness to seize seeds, push the skin of the vegetable with a fingernail. If the skin is not pressed, it is possible to start collecting zucchini.
5. Zucchini for removing remove seeds from dry plants. Before removing the seeds, the zucchini should be put on the post in a ventilated room for 10-15 days. Then cut the zucchini and remove the seeds. Seeds collected from unripe zucchini, have a low germination rate, so hurry up with the collection of seed should not be.
6. Seeds should be thoroughly dried before storing, otherwise they will rot. Lay the seeds on a sheet of paper and let it dry completely. When the seeds are completely dry, carefully peel them from the sheet of paper and put in linen bags for storage, putting the bags on the year of collection. If you have decided to store seeds in paper bags, then puncture each package with a needle in several places. This will improve ventilation.
7. Do not rinse the seeds in non-iron utensils, as it will lead to the darkening of the seeds and reduces the quality. Also, do not sbravati collected seeds of the courgettes, as is commonly done with seeds of tomatoes. Properly collected and processed pumpkin seeds remain viable for up to 7 years.
8. The squash stores well, and many gardeners are advised to collect seeds from zucchini in the winter, when the vegetables finally ripen in the conditions of the room of storage.