Cantaloupes DO cross pollinate with other “melons” like other cantaloupes, musk melons, snake melons and Armenian cucumbers. Separate therefore from other “melons” by a quarter mile.
Choose early ripening, disease free fruits to save seed from.
Wash seeds from ripe melons in a strainer, dry on a paper plate or paper sheet. Seeds are ready to store when they break instead of bending.
What to note when labeling the seed:
- what kind of cantaloupe the seed is from
- how long it takes the cantaloupe to mature
- basic planting instructions
- basic seed saving instructions
- what year the seed is from
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Squash within the same species DOES cross pollinate, therefore species should be isolated by a quarter mile. This will also reduce the danger of squash bugs spreading over all the crops if they pester one patch.
Seeds should be taken from fruits that have surpassed maturity by 3 weeks already.
Remove seed, wash, let dry on paper plate or thick sheet of paper.
NOTE:
There are four species of squash:
- Cucurbita maxima
- Cucurbita mixta
- Cucurbita moschata
- Cucurbita pepo
You can grow different species in the same garden and still save pure seed, as squash only cross pollinates WITHIN the same species.
What to note when labeling your seeds:
- what species and kind of squash the seed was saved from
- how long it takes the squash or zucchini to mature
- basic planting instructions
- basic seed saving instructions
- what year the seed was saved in
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Cucumbers DO cross pollinate, so if you want pure seed, separate cucumber varieties from each other by a quarter mile.
Seeds should be taken from fruit that has ripened past edible stage and begun to turn yellow and soften. To get to the seeds, cut the cucumber lengthwise, scoop the seeds out, wash them and dry them on a paper plate or thick sheet of paper.
Cucumber seeds, like squash and melon seeds, are dry when they break instead of bending.
Useful information to note when labeling your seeds:
- the cucumber variety the seed is from
- how long the cucumber takes to mature
- basic planting instructions
- basic seed saving instructions
- the year the seed was saved
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Posted by: Rose in carrots, tags: saving seeds
Carrots are biennial, that means, you can harvest seeds only in the second year.
Carrots Do cross pollinate, so separate them 1/4 mile from other carrots in the first year. In the second year, when they are going to seed, separate them also from Queen Anne’s Lace (about 1/4 mile).
Dig carrots up before the hard frost in the fall. Trim the tops to 1″ and store roots in a root cellar, in slightly damp sand, sawdust or leaves, over the winter. Replant in the spring, harvest the seed heads when they are dry.
Useful information when labeling your seeds:
- what kind of carrot the seeds are from
- which year the seed was saved
- basic seed saving instructions
- basic planting instructions, including approximate root size
- how long the carrots need to mature
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Posted by: Rose in beans, tags: saving seeds
Bean flowers are self-pollinating, so the danger of cross pollination is comparatively small. It’s is recommended to separate different kinds of beans by a garden length though to ensure absolute purity.
Save seeds from plants that ripen first and are disease free. Harvest seed pods reserved for seed saving when they are dried completely. Crush the pods in a cloth, or burlap sack, winnow the seeds from the chaff, and store in a dry, dark place, in a paper envelope or burlap sack.
Don’t forget to label your seed ! It is helpful to note:
- what kind of bean the seed is from
- if the bean is a pole bean or bush bean
- how long it takes the bean to ripen
- basic planting instructions
- the year in which the seed was saved
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I know this might come a little early for many of you out there, but I will start a new “series” here, giving information about saving seeds of different plants.
I guess you all know that it is not much use to save seed from hybrid plants as you never know what you are getting, but even if you planted hybrids, you can still the seeds anyway and see what comes of them next year. Anyway, it is better to buy heirloom seed if you plan on saving seeds.
You will find a list of the plants I mention in this series on the Index page.
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