How to Harvest Cucumber Seeds

Raising vegetables from seeds that the gardener has selected from his own garden, or the gardens of neighbors, family or friends, can be more rewarding than gardening from seeds purchased at a store. It gives the gardener a greater sense of accomplishment as they have taken responsibility not only for the care the vegetables plants in their garden receive but also the plant's genetic makeup. Cucumbers are one of the many vegetables home seed savers can grow.

Things You'll Need

• Cucumber plants
• Glass or plastic container
• Paper towels

Instructions

Harvesting Cucumber Seeds

1. Save the seeds from the best cucumber plants. Each cucumber has both male and female flowers so they do self-pollinate. However, if the plants are allowed to self-pollinate, different varieties should be separated by at least a half a mile in order to preserve genetic purity. Multiple varieties of cucumbers can be raised for seeds in the same garden if hand pollination techniques are employed.

   In order to improve the possibility of viable seeds of the proper genetic makeup, it is recommended seeds be collected from at least six different cucumbers from each of six plants.

2. Allow the cucumber to mature about five weeks beyond when the vegetable would normally be harvested. This allows the seeds to mature. By this point, the cucumber will be much longer than normal and usually yellow or golden in color.

   Seeds saved from cucumbers that are not mature will not germinate and mature the next spring. Unless the cucumber plants are grown specifically for seed, wait to allow some of the cucumbers to mature for seeds until the end of the season. The plants will stop setting fruit as the cucumbers mature. If a frost occurs before the cucumber is mature, the cucumber should be picked from the vine and allowed to ripen in a cool dry place.

3. Slice the fruit from end to end. With the fruit open, scrape out the seeds and associated fruit with a spoon and place it in a container. Stir the mixture every day. In a few days, the pieces of cucumber mixed with the seeds will dissolve away. The good seeds will sink to the bottom of the container while immature seeds will rise to the top. Some mold or mildew is normal with this process and actually kills any microorganisms on the seeds.

   Rinse the good seeds and dry them on paper towels for storage. Store in a cool dry place until ready for the next springs planting.

References

• University of Illinois Extension Office: Saving Seed from the Garden
• International Seed Saving Institute: Seed Saving