Cleaning up squash seeds

[flowerbug]

having saved and dried the squash seeds from this past season they were taking up too much room on the floor sitting there waiting for me to get to them. for my own uses it wouldn't matter if the seeds had some dried up pulp left on them, but to reduce how much space they'd take in storage i decided to clean them all up.

for the shiny-er seeds i found out that putting them in a terry type cloth or towel and then mushing them around well with my hands got them clean within a few minutes. then i'd pick out the bad ones and break them in half and toss them in the bucket of dry scraps i use for feeding the worms. it will give the small worms something to hide and play in.

the Baby Blue Hubbards had a different type of seed coating/texture which made cleaning them up more of a challenge but i got those done too. i have a life time supply of squash seeds now. except i've still not figured out where the Buttercup seeds went. i thought i had some set aside to dry but i didn't see them. i guess i hope to find them as i get more reorganising and cleaning done the next few months. i do have some older ones that i hope will grow, but i was hoping these newer ones would work out better (they didn't grow great, but i did get some squash so i should have seeds around...).

my normal method for getting squash seeds is to just squeeze them apart from the pulp i've scraped out of the squash and then let them dry well and stir them once in a while the first few days they are drying. after they have dried then i just have to remove that bit of pulp and shiny coating that remains.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Helps shade ground and saves space. A portion of "3 sisters" growing style.

I did this once. My problem was that the squash vines went everywhere, as they are prone to do. Made walking amongst it to harvest corn a real challenge. There was no way not to step on a vine or trip over a squash. Not a terrible problem I guess in light of the fact that I had a great harvest - but definitely an inconvenience.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Could be some mighty fine eating. Could end up being animal fodder! I had one such cross that looked absolutely wonderful. It was green and orange streaked/mottled, shaped like a hubbard. I think it was hubbard x Red Hokaido. It was pulpy, dry, and totally without flavor. An other time, I had 22# Buttercup, and also a Buttercup x Red Hokaido that were absolutely outstanding.

 

[Britesea]

as long as you have animals that will eat them, nothing is a waste! Did you save the seed from the squashes that tasted good? How did they turn out? I'm sure some ended up no good, but some might have fixed the positive attributes?

 

[Mini Horses]

I considered the walking thru them but, no matter where they are they are often "in the way". Just seems easier to deal with corn than the eggplant and tomatoes that I need to harvest often. For a time you don't do much with corn...besides, it will be in a corner, so they can run there, too. It's what I'm going to try. Hope it works ok cause I do like the squash. They may climb the nearby fence, too. then, maybe with the sunflowers 🤔. I have too much free time to think about this. 😁

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Right now I'd welcome that challenge again. I have garden dreams....garden fantasies...just have to hang in there a while longer. And, I want more seeds. Don't need more seeds - just want 'em. It's an addiction I tell ya, lol!

 

[flowerbug]

I did this once. My problem was that the squash vines went everywhere, as they are prone to do. Made walking amongst it to harvest corn a real challenge. There was no way not to step on a vine or trip over a squash. Not a terrible problem I guess in light of the fact that I had a great harvest - but definitely an inconvenience.

patayto patahto...

 

[Mini Horses]

Right now I'd welcome that challenge again. I have garden dreams....garden fantasies...just have to hang in there a while longer. And, I want more seeds. Don't need more seeds - just want 'em. It's an addiction I tell ya, lol!

Addiction for sure!!!!! any good result gives bragging rights!

 

[Lazy Gardener]

I'm sure you know that the Blue Hubbard will cross with Buttercup??

 

[frustratedearthmother]

That might be an interesting cross!