[Seedgeeks] squished squash squestion

[kris dicus]

Hey n. here's what i know of squish seed savin'.  you can hand pollinate using the male and female flowers from the same plant (selfing) or use male from one and female from another (sibing). the latter produces greater genetic diversity.  pick flowers that will open within 12-24 hours (you can tell these because they will show some color along their flower seams and the tips will just be begining to break apart).  Flowers that have already opened will be wilted and should not be used to pollinate.  once you have found the flowers you are going to work with - tape them shut, carefully, using masking tape (you should do this in the evening).  you can then place a stick or something to mark the plant and flower.  the next morning after the dew has dried - relocate the flowers.  pick the male flower a few inches of his stem.  remove the tape and carefully tear off all the flower petals.  next, gently the tape from the female flower, which will slowly open.  take the petal-less m
 ale flower and rub pollen grains onto each section of the stigma (top portion of the pistil which is the female reproductive part connected to the ovary).  i have heard that it is best to use several male flowers to assure proper pollination because pollen, like sperm, can sometimes be sterile  now re-tape the female flower and tie a brightly colored marker around its stem (yarn or surveyor's flags work great - but anything that will withstand heat, water and sunlight will work).  i also just read that the point at which the greatest number of fertile seeds occurs is 20 days after the fruit is fully mature.  during the 20 day period after the fruit is picked, the seeds continue to increase in size and actually gain strength.  after the post harvest ripening period, the fruit is cut open and the seeds removed.  wash or ferment the seeds (some say that fermented seeds have a higher germ rate due to the destruction of germination inhibitors present in the seed).  dry seeds out 
 of direct sunlight at 90-95 degrees (never in an oven as anything over 95 will destroy the seed) on a cookie sheet or something similar (nothing paper as the seeds will stick).  when the seeds break in half instead of bending they are dry enough to store.  hope this helps.  happy growing and SAVE THE SEEDS!!


On Fri, 2 Jul 2004 12:34:29 -0700 (PDT) Nick Routledge <fellowservant at yahoo.com> wrote:
Seedgeeks post:



The first flower on a zucchini plant, in the garden I share, opened this morning. It's one of many cucurbits we're growing - winter and summer squashes, melons, and gourds. They're all coming on strong and I'd like to save seed from as many of these plants as is possible. My sense from talking to people who seem to know what they're doing is that it _is_ possible to breed true seed in the midst of a squash squisfest - if you're right on top of your plants, and pollinate and bag the flowers yerself before da buzzy bees have a chance to get to them. I'm clueless on the details. Any ideas how a total seedsaving neophyte might go about helping plants have monogamous nookie?

n.


  
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