How to Save Gourd Seeds: Seed Saving Tutorial
Can you save seeds from your decorative gourds to plant next year? Yes! Learn how to save gourd seeds and how to keep gourds from crossing with other types of squash.
How to Save Gourd Seeds
Gourds come in so many different shapes and colors! Common gourds are members of three different species and are used for everything from festive fall decorations, to birdhouses, to cups and bowls.
Gourd Species
Why does the species matter for saving gourd seeds?
Gourds are insect pollinated and can cross with other plants from the same species growing within 1/2 mile.
The first gourd species is Lagenaria siceraria. These gourds have white flowers that usually open in the evening and are pollinated mostly by moths rather than bees!
Gourds that are members of L. siceraria include:
- Big Apple
- Speckled Apple
- Baby Bottle
- Birdhouse
- Speckled Swan
- Corsican Canteen
- Bushel Basket
- Kikinda Competition Strain Edible Gourd
- Mayo Bule
- Zucca Melon
All of the above gourd varieties can mix with each other.
The second gourd species is Cucurbita pepo. Members of C. pepo have large yellow flowers that are pollinated mostly by bees. C. pepo gourds can cross with pumpkins, zucchini, crookneck, patty pan, yellow summer squash and acorn squash, among others. If you would like to keep your gourds from accidentally crossing with these other plants, you can easily hand pollinate the flowers while they are growing.
C. pepo gourds include:
- Tennessee Dancing Gourd/Tennessee Spinning Gourd
- Most small, bright colored gourd mixes
- Shenot Crown of Thorns
- Autumn Wings
- Ozark Nest Egg
And finally the third species of gourd is Luffa aegyptiaca. This is the popular luffa sponge! Luffa gourds will not cross with other types of gourds or squash, so they are easy to save pure gourd seeds from!
If different gourd seeds from the same species are being grown together, they can be allowed to cross, and might make some fun new colors and shapes!
To save gourd seeds that are pure, you’ll probably need to hand pollinate. Hand pollination is a simple technique; all you need is some masking tape.
You can find instructions for hand pollinating the squash family here!
If you are more of a visual learner, you can find a video tutorial for hand pollinating the squash family here!
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Saving Gourd Seeds
To save the seeds from gourds, simply break them open and scoop out the gourd seeds. You can do this after you are done using them as fall decorations!
Wash the seeds with some mild dish soap and spread them out in an airy place to dry. Usually they will dry on their own at room temperature, but if you live in humid climate you can use a dehydrator set at 95 degrees Fahrenheit to make sure they don’t mold. Never dry seeds in an oven!
Gourd seeds will last many years if kept cool, dry and out of sunlight!
Want to learn more about saving seeds? Check out our seed saving course! Our affordable online course will teach you everything you need to know to save seeds from your garden in just a couple hours’ time! Avoid unwanted crossing or inbreeding depression and learn how to store your seeds for years!
The course includes handy reference charts for more than 20 common garden vegetables, as well as printable seed packets.
Happy Seed Saving!
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