Save Your Seeds!

Have you ever bought a gorgeous seasonal squash or pumpkin and thought you'd like to grow one for yourself?

Did you know that you can save the seeds from your lovely squashes and grow them in your garden?

With squashes and pumpkins in season for Autumn, this is the perfect moment to try saving seeds to grow in your own garden or allotment next year!

This year I have saved some seeds from a beautiful Chestnut Squash that I bought from the kitchen garden at Kingston Lacey (pictured with Bedford above). I'm looking forward to growing these beauties next year.

I was always under the impression that you couldn't or shouldn't attempt to grow your own vegetables from saved seeds, but nature is generous and abundant and it turns out that you definitely can. 

My first foray into seed saving was an organic butterniut squash from Abel and Cole. I kept the seeds and I have now enjoyed 3 generations of butternut squashes successfully grown in my garden. 

Each year I retain and dry some seeds for the next, and the cycle continues. The good news is you will have lots of seeds to share with friends too, and it's very difficult to run out!

Here's the method I use:

- Pick a squash from your favourite shop (I like to go organic where possible)

- When you are ready to cook and prepare your squash, carefully scrape out the seeds from the middle and place them in a bowl.

- Remove as much of the flesh and stringy bits as you can, but resist the temptation to wash them!

- Lay out your seeds in a small cardboard container or on a piece of brown paper, and turn them regularly so they don't stick, and make sure they are not touching each other. I use old cardboard fruit and vegetable packaging for this. 

- After about 2 or 3 weeks they should be dry enough to store. 

- Store. I keep mine in glass jars that I label and store in my kitchen apothecary. Make sure you put the type of squash and the year they were harvested on the label. Seeds will last for a couple of years but after that may not germinate and will need to be discarded.

Keep your jars of seeds in a cool, dryish place ready for the next growing season.

When spring comes you can plant them out after the last frost or start them off inside if your garden is a bit cold or North facing, like mine is.

Pro tip: look up your squash and find out the exact growing instructions from Google.

Enjoy your delicious free vegetables and all the admiring glances from your family and friends!