Description
Botanical name : Cucurbita pepo
Synonyms :
Common name : Zucchini, Courgette, Pumpkin, Gourd, Summer squash
Easy if isolation distance can be achieved, intermediate if hand pollinating.
Lifecycle: Annual
Pollination: Insect pollinated
Mating system: Monoecious. Separate flowers produce and accept pollen. Both types of flowers occur on the one plant.
Suggested spacing: Same as for eating production.
Seed specific requirements: Fruit must be left until fully mature
Isolation distance: 250 m from other varieties of the same species
Population size: 5 to 10 plants
Seed maturity: Seed is mature when the fruit has fully matured and skin is hard
Processing method: Wash flesh off seeds after removing from the fruit
Expected seed viability: 3 to 10
Images
Growing for seed
Members of the Cucurbita pepo species only cross-pollinate within the species. Keep separated from other varieties of C. pepo by at least 250 metres. Alternatively use hand pollination techniques for keeping varieties true-to-type.
Be particularly careful to identify the species of all the curcurbits you wish to grow in the same area as some ornamental gourds, patty pan squash, pumpkins, pepita pumpkins, winter squash as well as zucchini/courgette are all in this species and can potentially be cross pollinated by insects moving between crops.
Selection
Any plants that are particularly pest or disease prone early in the season can be removed the gene pool. Also any plants which form young fruit that are obviously the wrong shape or colour should be removed. Leaving one or two fruits to fully mature while eating other fruits while young will allow growers to review flavour and other eating characteristics, while also allowing the plant to put energy into maturing some fruit fully.
Harvest
Fruit for seed production are harvested at full maturity. Zucchini and summer squash must be left to fully mature beyond the eating stage. Pumpkins are harvested at the same point as for eating.
Full maturity can be determined by checking that a fingernail can not be pushed into the skin.
After harvesting the zucchini/pumpkins will continue to ripen the seed inside the fruit. Storing the mature fruit for a month to 6 weeks will allow this process to complete and produce the strongest seed.
Processing
Seeds are easily scraped out of the cavity of the fruit when it is cut open. Wash off as much flesh as possible before spreading the seed out to dry.
Storage
When touch dry the seed can be stored in a paper bag or left spread out to continue drying. It will take weeks for the seed to dry sufficiently to put in an airtight container. Stored seeds going mouldy is a common problem that is easily avoided by making absolutely sure the seed is dry all the way through before storage.
It is not necessary to treat C. pepo seeds for pests by freezing.
Other Resources
- Links to other sites and videos that are useful
Contributors
Liz Worth, Julie Davies