Saving Summer Squash Seeds

Do not rely on viral Blossom gardening hacks for advice on saving Summer squash seeds. Among other errors in these videos, they seem to perpetuate the myth that the seeds in a supermarket zuchini will be viable and can be used to plant zuccini. This notion is false and the zuccini fruit must be well past the usual stage of harvest in order for the seeds to be viable. In order to guarantee seed viability, the zucchini or Summer squash should be pick six to eight weeks after being pollinated and allowed to cure inside for two weeks.

Since pumpkins and acorn squash are the same species as zucchini and other common Summer squash (Cucurbita pepo), this method of saving seeds can also be applied to Winter squash. The main difference is that the seeds in Winter Squash are usually already viable by the time the squash is harvested.

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