Saving Butternut Squash Seeds to Plant for Next Year’s Garden
As fall approaches, gardeners reap the bounty of butternut squash from their vegetable patches. But once the final fruits have been harvested, there’s still an important task at hand – saving seeds for next year’s garden.
Growing your own butternut squash from saved seeds offers many rewards. You can preserve beloved heirloom varieties, get free seeds for planting, and even develop strains uniquely adapted to your growing conditions. With minimal effort, you can ensure a thriving crop of butternut squash for seasons to come.
Selecting Squash for Seed Saving
The first step is choosing appropriate butternut squash specimens from which to save seeds Allow squash to fully ripen on the vine to maturity, The rind should be hard and deeply colored Squash you’ve grown yourself has the best potential for seed saving, Store-bought squash may be treated to inhibit seed germination,
Avoid hybrid varieties, as their seeds won’t produce true offspring. Heirloom varieties are open-pollinated, so their seeds will grow into plants with predictable traits. Isolate different squash varieties to prevent cross-pollination that muddies genetics.
Harvesting and Extracting Butternut Squash Seeds
Once sufficiently ripe butternut squash are selected, harvest time comes. Use a sharp knife to slice open the fruit and scoop out the seeds and stringy pulp into a colander or bowl. Rinse away clinging flesh under running water, gently rubbing to remove fibers.
Optional fermentation further cleanses seeds of germination inhibitors. Simply soak rinsed seeds in water for a day or two until a layer of mold develops, then rinse again. Spread seeds on screens or paper towels to dry completely.
Proper Drying and Storage of Seeds
It’s vital to properly dry butternut squash seeds to maximize viability over time. Spread seeds in a single layer on screens or paper towels in a warm, dry, airy location out of direct sunlight. Turn seeds daily and allow 1-2 weeks for thorough drying.
Store thoroughly dried seeds in airtight, moisture-proof containers like glass jars or plastic bags. Ziplock bags work well. Label containers with variety and year collected. Store in a cool, dark, dry spot like the refrigerator. Properly stored, butternut squash seeds remain viable for 4-5 years.
Testing Seeds for Viability
Before planting saved seeds, it’s wise to test viability. Take a sample of seeds and place between damp paper towels. Keep moist and in a warm spot. Check after 1-2 weeks; seeds that sprout are still viable. You can also simply sow a test batch directly in starter pots and monitor germination.
Start Seeds Indoors for Transplanting
Butternut squash seeds can be directly sown in the garden after danger of frost, but starting them indoors gives the vines a head start. Sow seeds 1 inch deep and 2 inches apart in pots with seed starter mix. Keep warm (70-85°F) until sprouted, then move to full sunlight. Harden off before transplanting seedlings into the garden around 4-6 weeks after germination when outdoor temperatures warm.
Direct Sowing Butternut Squash Seeds Outdoors
If sowing butternut squash seeds directly in the garden, wait 2-4 weeks after the last expected frost date for soil to warm sufficiently. Prepare hills in full sun with rich soil mixed with compost. Sow 4-6 seeds 1 inch deep in each hill, spaced 4 feet apart. Thin later to 2-3 of the strongest seedlings per hill.
Growing Tips for Strong Butternut Squash Plants
Butternut squash plants need plenty of space for their large vines. Allow at least 4 feet between hills. Water deeply, especially during fruit set. Apply mulch to conserve moisture and reduce weeds. Fertilize monthly with balanced organic fertilizer. Support heavy fruits on slings or old pantyhose. Control pests like squash bugs and cucumber beetles organically. Butternut squash is ready for harvest when rinds resist denting from a fingernail. Enjoy your homegrown butternut squash all winter!
Common Seed Saving Challenges
While seed saving from butternut squash is fairly straightforward, it’s wise to be aware of some potential pitfalls:
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Cross-pollination between varieties can lead to hybrid offspring with unpredictable traits if isolation techniques weren’t used.
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Harvesting seed from diseased plants may carry seed-borne disease. Select only from healthy, thriving plants.
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Poor drying and storage can reduce viability. Take care to fully dry and store properly.
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Low germination rates may indicate unripe seed harvest or decline in vigor over time. Test viability yearly.
Saving butternut squash seeds annually bolsters self-sufficiency and sustainability. A bit of fall seed saving effort rewards you with free seeds for next year’s garden and preserves beloved squash varieties. With proper practices, you can maintain your own strain of butternut squash perfectly adapted to your growing conditions. Don’t let those precious seeds go to waste in the compost bin – try your hand at planting butternut squash true to type from your own saved seed.
Grow and Save Squash Seeds
There are four species of domesticated squash that are commonly grown in gardens: winter squash, pumpkin, summer squash, and gourds. All four species are essentially cultivated in the same manner, but members of the different species will not cross with one another, allowing a seed saver to grow multiple squash species at the same time.
Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed in the spring, or start from seed indoors and transplant out in the spring.
Create 12-inch diameter hills 6 feet apart. Plant 6-8 seeds per hill and later thin to 3-4 plants per hill. Sow seeds 1 inch deep.
When growing squash for seed, hand-pollination is recommended.
Common Pests and Diseases
Common pests include aphids and slugs.
Common diseases include powdery mildew, downy mildew, and cucumber mosaic virus. Watch plants carefully for signs of this cucumber mosaic, which includes yellow mottling, puckering of leaves, and rotting fruit, and remove plants from the garden.
Do not place infected plants in the compost pile that you use for your garden. Aphids can carry the virus, so you may want to consider pest control methods to control aphids in the garden.
Two Minute Quick Tip – Saving Squash Seeds for Planting
FAQ
How do you save butternut squash seeds for planting?
- Cut squash as usual, for eating.
- Remove seeds and membranes from the center of the squash.
- Use your fingers to separate the seeds from the membranes.
- Toss the membranes and add the seeds to a small jar.
- Fill the jar with water and add a lid.
- Allow the seeds to ferment for a few days to a week.
Can I plant the seeds from a butternut squash?
It’s so easy! It’s the season for fresh, local butternut squashes to appear in our shops. Cut your butternut squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Dry them on kitchen paper for a few days. Then store them in envelopes in a drawer over winter. Sow the seeds in spring in pots and keep on a sunny windowsill.
Do butternut squash seeds need to be dried before planting?
Do the seeds need to be dried? Yes. Unfortunately, I recommend drying first. The seeds just roast better and crisp up faster if they go in the oven dry. It’s my least favorite part too. I hate separating wet, slimy seeds and laying them out flat on dish towels. And then peeling them off the towel once they dry.
What to do with leftover butternut squash seeds?
Turn leftover squash seeds into a crunchy toasted snack by sizzling them in a frying pan with a splash of olive oil and a pinch of spice.