Seeds from zucchini and pumpkin. How to get and collect your own seeds from cucumbers, zucchini and any other fruits and vegetables. Seeds do not ferment

Seed propagation in the garden strawberries we are used to, unfortunately, leads to the appearance of less productive plants and weaker bushes. But another type of these sweet berries, alpine strawberries, can be successfully grown from seeds. Let's learn about the main advantages and disadvantages of this crop, consider the main varieties and features of agricultural technology. The information presented in this article will help you decide whether it is worth allocating a place for it in the berry garden.

Often, when we see a beautiful flower, we instinctively bend down to smell its fragrance. All fragrant flowers can be divided into two large groups: nocturnal (pollinated by moths) and daytime, whose pollinators are mainly bees. Both groups of plants are important for the florist and designer, because we often walk around the garden during the day and relax in our favorite corners when evening comes. We are never overwhelmed by the scent of our favorite fragrant flowers.

Many gardeners consider pumpkin to be the queen of garden beds. And not only because of its size, variety of shapes and colors, but also for its excellent taste, healthy qualities and rich harvest. Pumpkin contains a large amount of carotene, iron, various vitamins and minerals. Thanks to the possibility of long-term storage, this vegetable supports our health all year round. If you decide to plant a pumpkin on your plot, you will be interested in learning how to get the largest possible harvest.

Scotch eggs - incredibly delicious! Try to prepare this dish at home, there is nothing difficult in preparation. Scotch eggs are a hard-boiled egg wrapped in minced meat, breaded in flour, egg and breadcrumbs and deep-fried. For frying, you will need a frying pan with a high side, and if you have a deep fryer, then that’s just great - even less hassle. You will also need oil for frying so as not to smoke in the kitchen. Choose farm eggs for this recipe.

One of the most amazing large-flowered tubs of Dominican Cubanola fully justifies its status as a tropical miracle. Warm-loving, slow-growing, with huge and in many ways unique bells of flowers, Cubanola is a fragrant star with a complex character. It requires special conditions in the rooms. But for those who are looking for exclusive plants for their interior, a better (and more chocolatey) candidate for the role of indoor giant cannot be found.

Chickpea curry with meat is a hearty hot dish for lunch or dinner, inspired by Indian cuisine. This curry is quick to prepare but requires some prep. The chickpeas must first be soaked in plenty of cold water for several hours, preferably overnight; the water can be changed several times. It is also better to leave the meat overnight in the marinade so that it turns out juicy and tender. Then you should boil the chickpeas until tender and then prepare the curry according to the recipe.

Rhubarb cannot be found in every garden plot. It's a pity. This plant is a storehouse of vitamins and can be widely used in cooking. What is not prepared from rhubarb: soups and cabbage soup, salads, delicious jam, kvass, compotes and juices, candied fruits and marmalade, and even wine. But that's not all! The large green or red rosette of leaves of the plant, reminiscent of burdock, acts as a beautiful background for annuals. It is not surprising that rhubarb can also be seen in flower beds.

Today, the trend is to experiment with unusual combinations and non-standard colors in the garden. For example, plants with black inflorescences have become very fashionable. All black flowers are original and specific, and it is important for them to be able to select suitable partners and location. Therefore, this article will not only introduce you to an assortment of plants with slate-black inflorescences, but will also teach you the intricacies of using such mystical plants in garden design.

3 delicious sandwiches - a cucumber sandwich, a chicken sandwich, a cabbage and meat sandwich - a great idea for a quick snack or for an outdoor picnic. Just fresh vegetables, juicy chicken and cream cheese and a little seasoning. There are no onions in these sandwiches; if you wish, you can add onions marinated in balsamic vinegar to any of the sandwiches; this will not spoil the taste. Having quickly prepared snacks, all that remains is to pack a picnic basket and head to the nearest green lawn.

Depending on the varietal group, the age of seedlings suitable for planting in open ground is: for early tomatoes - 45-50 days, average ripening periods - 55-60 and late ones - at least 70 days. When planting tomato seedlings at a younger age, the period of its adaptation to new conditions is significantly extended. But success in obtaining a high-quality tomato harvest also depends on carefully following the basic rules for planting seedlings in open ground.

Unpretentious “background” plants of sansevieria do not seem boring to those who value minimalism. They are better suited than other indoor decorative foliage stars for collections that require minimal care. Stable decorativeness and extreme hardiness in only one species of sansevieria are also combined with compactness and very rapid growth - rosette sansevieria Hana. The squat rosettes of their tough leaves create striking clusters and patterns.

One of the brightest months of the garden calendar pleasantly surprises with the balanced distribution of favorable and unfavorable days for working with plants according to the lunar calendar. In June, you can garden and garden throughout the entire month, while the unfavorable periods are very short and still allow you to do useful work. There will be optimal days for sowing and planting, for pruning, for a pond, and even for construction work.

Meat with mushrooms in a frying pan is an inexpensive hot dish that is suitable for a regular lunch and for a holiday menu. Pork will cook quickly, veal and chicken too, so this is the preferred meat for the recipe. Mushrooms - fresh champignons, in my opinion, are the best choice for homemade stew. Forest gold - boletus, boletus and other delicacies are best prepared for the winter. Boiled rice or mashed potatoes are ideal as a side dish.

I love ornamental shrubs, especially unpretentious ones and with interesting, non-trivial foliage colors. I have various Japanese spirea, Thunberg barberries, black elderberry... And there is one special shrub, which I will tell you about in this article - viburnum leaf. To fulfill my dream of a low-maintenance garden, it is perhaps ideal. At the same time, it is capable of greatly diversifying the picture in the garden, from spring to autumn.

If you want to get zucchini seeds of the highest quality possible, leave only large, healthy fruits of the desired variety for these purposes.

Experienced gardeners advise reducing the amount of fertilizing for zucchini seeds. Do not forget that before you start cultivating a crop, the seed must undergo appropriate preparation.

How to get your own zucchini seeds

Zucchini is a type of hard-skinned pumpkin. It was brought to Russia in the 19th century from Turkey and Greece.

Zucchini fruits acquire commercial properties 40-50 days after germination. Zucchini is an annual plant.

The best, typical fruits are left for seed purposes on the same plants from which food ovaries were collected, but you need to pay attention to some growing features.

Plantings of different varieties should be isolated, since the flowers of different varieties of squash easily cross-pollinate with each other, as well as with the flowers of hardbark and squash varieties.

When harvesting your own zucchini seeds in a small area, it is better to grow one variety of this crop, not to grow squash and hard-bark (ordinary) pumpkin.

The growing season for zucchini lasts approximately 100-115 days. After the ovaries form, at least 60 days must pass before the zucchini can be left for seed.

To speed up the ripening of plants that are planned to be left for obtaining zucchini seeds, you need to pinch the main stem at the budding stage of the plant.

This will produce larger fruits for seed production. Reduce by half the amount of fertilizing for those plants that are left for seeds.

Leave 1-2 zucchini per plant to collect seeds for seedlings. To obtain your own seed, choose healthy, beautiful vegetables that have a typical shape and color for the variety.

How to collect zucchini seeds for planting

The most powerful plants are selected for seed purposes. All grown fruits are removed as they reach technical ripeness, but one or two are left until fully ripened.

Before collecting zucchini seeds, the fruits must reach full biological ripeness. This is determined by changes in the color and hardness of the bark. Ripe fruits become yellow, white, cream or another color (depending on the variety), and their bark becomes hard, woody (does not press down even when pressed with a sharp object). To remove seeds, remove zucchini from dry plants. Only after this the testes are removed (along with the stalk) and ripened in a warm house. This may take from 7 to 25 days. But there is no need to rush; the testes can be stored longer, until late autumn or even winter. Seeds collected from unripe zucchini have low germination rate, so you should not rush to collect the seeds.

The ripe testis is cut lengthwise and the seeds are selected. The seeds should be thoroughly dried before storing, otherwise they will rot. Place the seeds on a sheet of paper and leave until completely dry. When the seeds are completely dry, carefully separate them from the sheet of paper and put them in linen bags for storage, indicating the year of collection on the bags. If you decide to store seeds in paper bags, pierce each bag with a needle in several places. This will improve air exchange.

Do not wash the seeds in a non-galvanized iron bowl, as this will cause the seeds to darken and deteriorate their quality.

Zucchini stores well, and many gardeners advise collecting seeds from zucchini in winter, when the vegetables have finally ripened in indoor storage conditions. The fruits, after seeding, are suitable for salads, soups and other dishes.

Processing zucchini seeds to prepare for sowing

Before sowing, zucchini seeds are heated at a temperature of 50-60 °C for several days, and for the last few hours at a temperature of 78 °C. The temperature is increased gradually so as not to destroy the seed embryo.

Warming up when preparing zucchini seeds for sowing helps to destroy pathogens of viral diseases. The heated seeds are soaked in a solution of epin (2 drops per 1 liter of water) or a solution of microelements for 12 hours.

Aloe tends to produce biologically active substances when the leaves are picked and placed in the refrigerator for several days. It is these substances that are most valuable in this plant. Therefore, if you want to disinfect your seeds in this way, keep the leaves at a temperature of 2 ° C for a week, then squeeze the juice from the leaves, dilute it with water in a 1: 1 ratio or use undiluted.

Garlic is also widely known for its antibacterial properties. Finely chop the cloves or simply squeeze the juice out of them, dilute with water in a ratio of 1:3, place the seeds in the solution for 1 hour, rinse and dry until free-flowing.

To germinate zucchini seeds, they are soaked for 3-5 days before planting. As soon as they hatch, they are planted. To do this, make small holes, place 2-3 seeds in each to a depth of 2-3 cm. Carefully cover the hole with earth. If all the seeds germinate, leave one sprout in each hole, the rest are transplanted to another place.

Modern varieties of zucchini are often called zucchini, and many are lost, not knowing how the plants differ.

Zucchini also belongs to the pumpkin family, but the following parameters distinguish them from zucchini:

• The zucchini skin is very thin, the flesh is more tender and juicy. Despite this, the vegetable is perfectly stored all winter at room temperature;
• zucchini, unlike zucchini, has earlier periods of vegetation and fruiting; zucchini has a fairly compact fruit size, the skin of this vegetable is most often colored dark green or yellow;
• Unlike zucchini, zucchini cannot tolerate frost and when the temperature drops they stop bearing fruit.

Despite the fact that zucchini loves warmth, this crop performs well in open ground in areas with a temperate climate. The optimal temperature for good crop yield is 23-28 degrees, but even at lower temperatures, zucchini bears fruit well. The only thing you need to be wary of when growing these vegetables is frost on the soil, which will cause the plants to immediately drop their flowers.

It is quite difficult to choose the highest quality and most productive varieties of zucchini, since a lot of foreign hybrids have appeared on sale, which do not perform very well in the temperate latitudes of Russia. There is also no need to focus on early-ripening and late-ripening varieties, since zucchini themselves have a rather short growing season and, under optimal conditions, quickly begin to bear fruit. The difference between ripening in early and late varieties sometimes does not exceed a week, which is why these parameters are not very relevant for many plant growers.

The difference between domestic and foreign hybrids

Despite the fact that growing zucchini is practically not associated with any difficulties, when choosing seeds it is advisable to pay attention to the origin of the seed material.

Domestic varieties are quite well adapted to frost and are suitable for cultivation in the northern and central regions of the country. But the growing season for these plants is short.

Foreign hybrids are more delicate and show low yields at moderate temperatures. Such varieties are best grown in the southern regions, since the growing season for foreign varieties is longer, which allows you to get the maximum fruit from the plant.

It is also worth paying attention to the type of vegetables. Domestic varieties are not distinguished by their beauty and color variability, but long-term preservation and good taste are always at their best. Many foreign hybrids have an excellent presentation, but sometimes the taste leaves much to be desired. It is also worth noting that foreign hybrids have thinner skins on fruits than domestic ones, which significantly affects their ability to be preserved in winter. The advantages of foreign varieties of zucchini include the fact that the fruits develop a smaller seed chamber, which is why there is more pulp.

When ripened on bushes, foreign hybrids do not overripe and retain their taste for a long time, which makes them attractive to lovers of fresh vegetables.

The best varieties of crops for open ground, domestic selection

This variety is mid-early: no more than 57 days pass from seed germination to technical maturity of the fruit. This is a bush variety, characterized by strong branching of shoots. The fruits of this domestic hybrid are distinguished by good keeping quality and transportation due to the very dense peel, which, as the testes ripen, changes color from green to white. The weight of the fruit ranges from 500 to 1700 grams, the flesh is white, and the seeds are large.

This is one of the most unpretentious and frost-resistant varieties that can be grown even in the northern regions. Despite its resistance to rot and infections, the variety is often affected by aphids and powdery mildew. The fruit yield is quite high - up to 8 kg per square meter.

Video - Review of zucchini seeds Gribovskie 37

Apollo F1

This variety is quite common and popular due to its high yield and early ripening. From the moment of seed germination to fruiting, no more than 40 days pass. The plant is distinguished by a powerful and branched bush, with a large number of leaves. Fruits that have reached technical maturity can weigh more than 2 kg, the color is green, with white speckles. The skin is very dense, which contributes to better preservation of the testes in winter. The pulp is white and has excellent taste.

The main differences of this variety are frost resistance, unpretentiousness when growing, uniformity of fruits and fruitfulness.

This variety is the best way to provide yourself with an early and abundant harvest. The variety performs well in northern regions and is frost-resistant. During the growing season, the plant forms a compact basket with a large number of leaves. The shape of mature zucchini is oval, the color of the peel is light green. The pulp is also light green, very juicy and sweet. The fruits are suitable for both heat-treated dishes and raw consumption.

The variety begins to bear fruit quickly, but the pulp of overripe fruits quickly becomes hard, so the harvest should be harvested constantly. Testes removed in time are stored for quite a long time without losing their taste. The seed chamber of the variety is quite large, with large seeds.

This variety got its name due to the color of the peel of the ripe fruit. Zucchini is colored light green, but dark green stripes are clearly visible across the entire surface of the fruit. The variety is considered early, productive, and unpretentious to growing conditions. The average fruit weight is 800-900 grams. Zebra is stored very well without loss of taste; some fruits are stored until March.

In addition to its excellent taste, the zucchini variety has a lot of advantages: good transportability, uniformity of fruits, good yield, small seed chamber, high seed germination.

The best domestically selected zucchini seeds for greenhouse cultivation

Most often, green-fruited varieties of zucchini are grown in greenhouses, since these plants do not tolerate weather changes quite well, which has a bad effect on yields. Green-fruited zucchini belongs to the type of zucchini, which does not always show good yield in the central and northern regions of the country. You also need to know that for growing in greenhouses it is customary to select those varieties that have a large number of female flowers.

Interesting to know. Zucchini is a cross-pollinating plant with two types of flowers. Female flowers have pistils and male flowers have stamens. When growing zucchini outdoors, the female flowers are pollinated by the wind or bees. During the greenhouse growing season, it is customary to manually pollinate female flowers with male flowers. For these purposes, you should touch the flowers with stamens with the plucked inflorescence with pistils. This will allow you to get the maximum crop yield.

Skvorushka

This variety is distinguished by a large number of female flowers. Skvorushka is an early-ripening green-fruited variety: no more than 50 days pass from seed germination to maturity. Under optimal germination conditions, the zucchini variety shows high yield. The fruits of the plant are rather elongated, cylindrical in shape, with slight ribbing along the length. The color of the rather thin peel is dark green, with small specks of white. The pulp is juicy and has high taste. The average weight of mature testes is from 700 to 1000 grams. Despite the thin peel, zucchini is quite well stored and transported.

Video - Review of zucchini seeds Skvorushka

This variety is classified as a yellow-fruited type of zucchini. This is due to the color of the peel and pulp. Zolotinka can be grown not only in greenhouses; this variety has good yields in open ground. But due to low frost resistance, this variety is best grown in the southern and central regions or indoors.

The main distinguishing feature of these zucchini is the bright color of the peel and pulp, painted in a deep orange color. The rind of Zolotinka is strong, the shape of the fruit is elongated, with slight ribbing. The pulp is bright, dense, crispy, with a high content of sugar and juice. Housewives love this variety because when preserved, zucchini does not lose its color and even when heat-treated remains bright orange.

The fruits of Zolotinka are quite small - up to 10 cm in length and weighing no more than 450-500 grams. No more than 50 days pass from seed germination to zucchini maturity.

This variety of zucchini is classified as zucchini. The variety is early ripening, high-yielding, and is distinguished by compact branching of the basket. The fruits of the variety are not too large - up to a kilogram; the peel is dark green, with bright light inclusions. The shape is cylindrical, elongated, with weak longitudinal ribbing. The pulp of ripe fruits is white, juicy and sweet. The variety is distinguished not only by its high aesthetic appearance and uniformity of fruits, but also by good transportation and storage qualities. In order for the yield to be high, you should strictly monitor the ripeness of the fruits and collect them on time. If the crop is not harvested, the plant stops producing new fruits. Under good conditions, you can harvest up to 12 kg of zucchini from one square meter.

Karam 9908380

This variety of zucchini is grown not only under film or in a greenhouse, but also in open ground. But according to experienced plant growers, it is greenhouse conditions that make it possible to achieve maximum yield. The variety is early ripening. From seed germination to maturity of the testes, no more than 45 days pass. The plant has a compact bush basket, the leaves are large and dissected. The fruits are formed uniformly, the shape is cylindrical, tapering towards the stalk, without ribbing. The color of the fruit peel is pale green or white. The average fruit weight is 700 grams. The seed chamber is large, with large seeds. Under optimal growing conditions, yields of up to 11 kg per square meter can be achieved.

High-yielding hybrids of foreign origin

Foreign hybrids have both their pros and cons. But despite this, more and more recently bred varieties are gaining popularity among experienced summer residents and gardeners.

This variety is classified as early ripening, since about 45 days pass from the moment the seedlings appear to the technical maturity of the testes. This type of zucchini can be grown by seedlings and sowing in open ground. The plant forms a not too spreading bush, with a small number of leaves. Ripe fruits weigh up to 1 kg. The peel is dense, thin, pale green, without inclusions or other patterns. The pulp of the fruit has a high content of juice and sugar and has a fairly high taste. The hybrid is resistant to most infections and white rot. Under optimal growing conditions, you can get up to 14 kg of fruit per square meter of land.

This high-yielding hybrid is of Italian origin, but despite this it is characterized by increased frost resistance. Optimal yield can be achieved using the greenhouse growing method. It belongs to the early ripening varieties, since the full maturity of the testes occurs 40 days after seed germination. An adult plant forms into a compact bush. The fruits have an elongated shape, length - 19-23 cm, weight up to 1500 grams. The color of ripe fruits is dark green. The pulp is juicy and sweet. The high-yielding variety is characterized by long-term preservation and evenness of the fruit.

Helena

Zucchini Helena

This variety is classified as a yellow-fruited crop. Zucchini has an orange peel and pulp. The weight of mature fruits does not exceed 600 grams, length 22 cm. The testes have an elongated cylindrical shape, tapering towards the stalk. The variety is quite resistant to most infections, but can be affected by powdery mildew or bacteriosis. The period of vegetation and fruiting of this early ripening variety does not exceed 45 days.

Cavili

The variety is early ripening - up to 45 days from seed germination to harvest. During the growing season, the plant forms a small bush with large internodes. The fruits have a highly elongated shape, with well-defined longitudinal ribs. The color of the peel is green, pale. The pulp is white, juicy, sweet. The seed chambers are small. The length of a mature fruit is 20-22 cm, weight up to 500 grams. The variety has a long fruiting period and is suitable for growing in a greenhouse and outdoors.

Video – Review of Kavili Zucchini Seeds

Gold Rush F1

This early-ripening variety is suitable for growing in open ground and has good frost resistance, despite the fact that it is classified as a zucchini hybrid. The fruits are not too large, cylindrical in shape, orange in color. The pulp is white, rich in juice, with a high sugar content. The length of a mature testis is 18-20 cm, weight is 200-220 grams. The Dutch hybrid is characterized by good yield, uniformity of fruits, and is suitable for preparing preserves and eating raw.

Unusual types of zucchini

The Amazing Giant

This variety simply amazes not only with the size of the fruits, but also with its good adaptability to unfavorable climatic weather conditions. The plant forms a fairly large bush, with long and powerful vines, on which phenomenally gigantic fruits ripen - up to 8 kg. In addition, the variety is very early ripening and you can visually observe the growth of the crop. The length of a mature zucchini sometimes exceeds 1 meter. The fruits are stored all winter and spring without loss of taste. The pulp of a mature zucchini is orange, the peel is white. Under favorable conditions, one plant can produce 30-40 kg of fruit.

Spaghetti

This variety is a godsend for gourmets who love to discover new tastes. In a ripe zucchini, the pulp disintegrates into fibers and, when cooked, becomes similar to slightly crispy pasta.

The variety is an early variety, but growing the crop requires certain conditions: good sunlight and controlled watering. If the zucchini grows in the shade, then you can’t count on large fruits. Under optimal conditions, zucchini can grow large - more than 3 kg. The variety's baskets are highly branched, with long and strong vines.

Gardeners who have been growing zucchini for many years probably have several especially favorite varieties. However, there is always the possibility that next season it will be difficult to find their seeds for sale. It is possible that the germination of seed material will also not be up to par, and the grown fruits will disappoint because they do not meet the expected characteristics.

To eliminate the possibility of such surprises, experienced gardeners prefer to use seeds obtained from their own harvest. Moreover, even a novice vegetable grower can handle the preparation and storage of planting material.

How to choose and grow seed fruits correctly?

In itself, growing zucchini on a personal plot is not a difficult task. However, if we are talking about growing seeds, then novice vegetable growers should know several features of the process.

• It is necessary to take into account the cross-pollination nature of the pumpkin family, which also includes zucchini. The high probability of cross-pollination dictates the need for isolated planting of plants of one variety from their close relatives: other varieties of zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkins or squash. The distance should be at least 100–150 meters. If this condition cannot be met, use artificial pollination.
• Choose only pure varieties for seed material. Using seeds obtained from hybrid squash will lead to the most unpredictable consequences. Most often, the result of such plantings does not meet the expectations of the summer resident, demonstrating fruits with characteristics that are completely inconsistent with the variety.
• Plants planned for seed production require slightly different care than their regular counterparts. Their fruits need a faster ripening process so that the seeds have time to form and ripen while still in the garden. To do this, seed bushes are watered and fed less than all other plantings. In addition, after the formation of the first 2-3 ovaries, it is recommended to pinch the central stem.
• To obtain seeds, the smoothest, largest and healthiest specimens are always selected, possessing all the necessary varietal characteristics (weight and shape of the fruit, skin color) in full.

Getting seeds: little tricks

To prepare truly high-quality seeds, you need to collect them from completely ripe fruits. The moment of collection can be determined by two main characteristics.

• The bush with the seeds has withered and turned yellow. This means that the active growing season of the plant has ended and the leaves and stems have given maximum nutrients to the fruits so that they can be preserved until the next season.
• The zucchini peel has become so dense that there are no scratches left on it from a fingernail or a sharp sliver of wood. In addition, its color becomes as intense as possible: black-green, orange or rich cream, depending on the varietal characteristics.

Any, even the most ripe specimens require final ripening for 3–4 weeks in a dry room with good ventilation.

Final processing of planting material

In order for seeds to be stored better, they must be properly prepared. This is done in several stages.

• The ripened fruit is cut in half lengthwise and all the seeds are removed, laid out to dry on a glass, plastic or ceramic surface. If you are drying planting material on a metal tray or baking sheet, be sure to place thick paper or cardboard on it.
• Before laying out to dry, the seeds must not be washed, freed from partitions or fermented.
• It is best to dry the seeds outdoors, but protecting them from direct sun. If weather conditions do not allow this, spread the seeds at home and dry at room temperature.
• Remember to stir the crop periodically to ensure even drying and eliminate the possibility of mold formation.

How to properly store seed material?

You can harvest seeds of your favorite varieties every year, but it is recommended to store them for several years so that you always have spare planting material in case of unforeseen situations such as cross-pollination or crop failure due to bad weather.

• Only well-dried seeds should be stored for storage, since excess moisture will very quickly lead to the appearance of mold and damage to the planting material.
• Zucchini does not like too high room temperatures. Optimal storage conditions are from +10° C to +15° C.
• Good ventilation is very important for seeds, so breathable cardboard boxes, paper bags and envelopes, and canvas bags are chosen as containers for them. Only very well-dried seeds can be stored in sealed glass or ceramic containers.
• Do not forget to mark the crop, the name of the variety and the date of procurement of planting material on the packaging.
• In a dry and cool room with good ventilation, zucchini seeds can be stored for up to 7 years without loss of germination. However, planting material at the age of two to three years has the best performance.

How to collect seeds of tomatoes (tomatoes), cucumbers and other vegetables from your garden to get a high-quality harvest for next year? Let's talk about this in our article.

Annual plant seeds

The easiest way to grow annual vegetable plants for seeds: dill, lettuce, radishes, peas, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, pumpkin, cauliflower, broccoli.

Collecting dill and lettuce seeds

To obtain high-quality dill and lettuce seeds in the middle zone, early-ripening varieties are selected and sown before winter, usually in early November. Crops are mulched with peat or humus. Next year, these plants will bloom 10–12 days earlier, which is very important for seed ripening. The umbrella inflorescences are removed in August, when the seeds in them begin to turn brown and the leaves on the stems dry out and turn yellow. Ripe inflorescences are cut off early in the morning along with the stem, they are tied into sheaves and left in a well-ventilated area. After drying, the umbrellas are threshed.

Mid- and late-ripening varieties of dill and lettuce intended for seeds are first grown in greenhouses, sown in March, and in mid-May the seedlings are planted in the garden. In the south of the country, all varieties of lettuce and dill are sown only in early spring, as soon as the soil is ready for cultivation.

Collecting radish, pea and bean seeds

Radishes are sown in the earliest spring. It is important that no wild radishes or other varieties of radishes grow on or near the site. Plants that have formed a good root crop are left for seeds. The fruit pods are removed when they begin to turn yellow and the seeds turn brownish.

Peas and beans are picked for their seeds when they are not fully ripe; they are well dried along with the stems until the pods are completely ripe. The browned cauliflower pods are dried for two weeks to a month and then threshed.

Collecting broccoli seeds

Broccoli blooms quickly, breaking up into inflorescences. To obtain seeds, it is sown in a non-chernozem zone in mid-March and planted in the ground at the end of April. In the southern regions, all this is done a month earlier. To speed up seed ripening, remove side shoots in the leaf axils in a timely manner.

Many amateur vegetable growers successfully obtain seeds of their favorite varieties of cucumbers, zucchini, squash, pumpkin and tomatoes.

Collecting cucumber seeds

Cucumbers of the first harvest, growing on vines from the axil of the first or second leaf, are left for seeds. Above the fifth or sixth leaf, the lashes are pinched. Wooden labels are tied to the stalk. Seed cucumbers of early ripening varieties in the middle zone ripen in approximately 35 - 40 days after fruit formation. They are usually picked at the end of August, when the lashes begin to turn yellow. Sometimes, due to bad weather, they are harvested not quite ripe, but not earlier than after 25 - 30 days.

Remove everything at once or in two steps with an interval of two weeks and place it for ripening (ripening) for 15 - 20 days on a windowsill in a dry room at a temperature of 18 - 20 degrees. Typically, such cucumbers are brownish-brown with a network of cracks or creamy yellow without a network.

The earlier the cucumbers are picked, the longer the ripening period. If the fruits are not removed from the plant before 50 days, ripening is reduced to 10–15 days. It is not recommended to overexpose the fruits, otherwise the germination rate and seed germination rate will deteriorate.

When the seed cucumber becomes soft, it is cut lengthwise. True, some experienced amateurs recommend cutting not lengthwise, but across and taking seeds from the half where the stalk is. The seeds there are larger and have high germination rates. The harvest is early and high.

The selected seeds along with the pulp (pulp) are placed in a glass or enamel bowl. In metal they will turn black. After 3–4 days, the seeds are fermented at room temperature, during which time the pulp is easily separated. Then they are washed well with water, stirring vigorously. When they settle after washing, the floating puny seeds and remaining pulp are drained, the remaining seeds are washed 2-3 more times and laid out in a thin layer on glass, plywood or paper.

We collect seeds of zucchini, squash, pumpkin

Zucchini and squash left for seeds are removed all at once. In the middle zone, vegetable seeds ripen well, growing up to 60 - 70 days. The collected seeds ripen on average 10 – 20 days. Mature testes are cream-colored, woody, their flesh is overripe and rough. Previously harvested fruits require more ripening: those collected after 50 - 60 days ripen another 20 - 30 days, and after 40 - 50 days - 30 - 50 days. Seeds from fruits cut in half are selected by hand. Unlike cucumbers, they are not washed, but are immediately dried in the open air in good weather, and under a canopy in bad weather.

Pumpkin for seeds is left only from the first harvest; the rind of a ripe, diseased pumpkin is matte, sometimes reddish with a network of cracks. The seeds and pulp are scooped out with a metal spoon, fermented for 2–3 days, then washed on a sieve and dried in a thin layer in air in the shade.

About cross pollination pollination

When growing cucumbers, zucchini, and squash for seeds, you should remember that different varieties can pollinate each other. The resulting hybrid plants will produce hybrid seeds. Therefore, it is better to grow one variety. Or do artificial pollination.

It is carried out as follows. Large, unopened buds of female flowers from healthy plants are covered with small gauze bags the day before blooming. The buds of male flowers are collected in the room. The bag is not closed to prevent pollen from sweating out. The open female flowers are then pollinated with pollen from the male plants and closed again. When the fruits are ripe, the bags are removed.

Collecting tomato seeds

For tomatoes, the fruits of early-ripening, healthy, productive plants are left for seeds (preferably from the first or second bunch). They are marked with a ribbon. They are picked red and brown when ripe. Brown ones ripen no more than two weeks, red ones - one week. Ripe tomatoes become bright and soft. There is no need to overexpose them, otherwise the sowing quality will deteriorate.

The fruits are cut crosswise and the seeds and pulp are placed in a glass bowl with a teaspoon. They are kept there for 2–4 days at a temperature of 20–22 degrees. When the juice brightens and the pulp rises, the seeds are washed with water and dried on plywood, glass or paper.

Seeds of biennial plants

So far we have been talking about annual plants. It is somewhat more difficult to obtain seeds from two-year-old plants in the middle zone. They form seeds only in the second year. These are carrots, beets, parsley, celery, turnips, radishes, cabbage and others.

In the autumn of the first year, before frost sets in, healthy vegetables without any damage are selected. The leaves are trimmed, the vegetables are cleaned of dirt. Initially, they can be stored outdoors under a small layer of soil (10 - 15 cm). As soon as cool weather arrives (4 - 5 degrees), they are transferred to storage and covered with sand. If they are stacked, then so be it. So that the heads are on the outside. The storage must have good air circulation, constant temperature - 0 - 1 degree and relative humidity - 90%.

The next year, in early spring, the vegetables are carefully examined; healthy ones with awakened apical buds are selected for planting. In the middle zone, 3 - 3.5 weeks before planting, they are dug in in semi-warm greenhouses or in insulated beds, and in late April - early May they are transplanted into the ground, leaving the upper part at soil level.

Vegetables are planted at some distance from other varieties of the same crop. Weeds are removed from the crops - quinoa, chickweed, wild radish.

It is good to feed the plants left for seeds with nitrogen fertilizers when they just begin to germinate, and at the time of flowering - with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Parsley and parsnips do not have their leaves trimmed in summer.

At the beginning of October, they begin to collect ripe seeds - they ripen unevenly - 30 - 40 days. In carrots, parsley, and parsnips, the ripened seeds in the umbels become brownish, the radish pods at this time acquire a light yellow color, and the seeds become light brown; in beets, 25–30% of browned glomeruli appear. Ripe seeds are cut, dried under shelters or in a well-ventilated room, and then threshed.

In the southern regions of the country, root crops left for seed are not dug up; they overwinter in the soil. The best healthy plants are selected from white cabbage, red cabbage, savoy cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi for seeds. They are stored at a temperature of 0 to 1 degree and a relative humidity of 90 - 95%. In the spring, 3–4 weeks before planting, the stumps are cut out of the heads of cabbage, being careful not to touch the apical bud. They are placed in stacks with the roots inward and layered with moistened peat and humus.

After planting in open ground, the stumps are covered with damp straw, protecting them from frost and sunburn. From the buds on the stump, a main stem up to 1.7 meters high with lateral flowering shoots develops. The fruit pods are harvested 40 - 50 days after the end of flowering, they are placed under a canopy, dried and threshed.

In the southern regions of the country, heads of cabbage are not cut off in the fall; they overwinter, covered with a layer of earth. In the spring, the top is cleared of soil and the remaining leaves are cut off from it, freeing the apical bud.

You can also collect seeds from some perennial vegetables - sorrel, rhubarb, lemon balm, mint, lovage and others. These crops produce seeds annually, starting from the second year of life. They are called perennial because they can grow in one place for up to five years or more.

Seeds are collected in the non-chernozem zone in late summer - early autumn, when the lower seed pods of the inflorescences or the tops of the shoots turn brown. Leaves from plants left for this purpose in spring and summer are not cut off. You cannot be late with harvesting, as the seeds easily fall off. Ripe stems are cut early in the morning, tied into bunches, left for 5–10 days to ripen and dry in a well-ventilated area, then threshed.

It is better to keep vegetable seeds in a dry, ventilated area. They remain viable for the following periods: parsley, dill, carrots, lettuce, rhubarb, sorrel for up to three to four years; cabbage (white, red, cauliflower), tomatoes, radishes, turnips, beets - up to five; peas, beans - up to six; kohlrabi - up to five - seven; zucchini, squash, cucumbers, pumpkin - up to six to eight. The best cucumber seeds are two to three years old; they produce more female flowers.