[jambop]

I got some good courgettes this year and am going to save some seed for next year. I let some of them go to seed and am harvesting the seed now. Not all the courgettes are the same size and so the seeds are a different size. Which is the best size of seed to save the big ones or the small ones that are about half the size ? Is the size or the seed in any way indicative of the size of the courgettes that will grow next year?

[Kristen]

I think any that are "flat" won't germinate, other than that I'd go for the fattest ones.

Any other members of the Squash family nearby? as they are very promiscuous and they are likely to cross pollinated and give you Heinz 57 next year

If the original was an F1 variety then outcome next year is also uncertain, and might be dissappointing.

[surbie100]

Did you hand pollinate the courgettes or in another way isolate the plants so they wouldn't cross with other courgettes/some winter squash? If not, if you or your neighbours had anything else growing from the 'pepo' family you may well have seed that are cross-pollinated and won't come true. Sorry if this is a noddy statement. Am assuming they weren't F1s. 

I saved courgettes this year for the Forum Seed Circle and have had similar results from the 2 courgettes I saved, though the bigger seeds aren't twice the size now they are dried. If you have any of the original seed left, I would compare them with those.

Also perhaps think back to the plants they were harvested from. For my plants, the very seedy (but smaller seeded) courgette came from a plant with no other courgettes taking after this hand-pollinated one started properly growing. The other plant had the slightly bigger courgette with fewer seeds but it also produced a steady but small number of courgettes through the growing season. On balance I'd think that was a stronger plant, and I would probably choose to grow the latter, though till I have more experience I will grow a couple of each and see what the difference is.

Hope that helps. 

[jambop]

Thanks for the replies. I did have butternuts growing in the garden about thirty feet away. The plants were F1's bought at the market. I know they are unlikely to be exactly the same but still worth a try I suppose?

[surbie100]

Butternuts won't cross with courgettes - there are 3 families within squashes and they don't/hardly ever cross-pollinate. But unless you isolate the flowers, your courgettes can cross with any other courgette nearby, or patty pan, or winter acorn squashes like Sweet Dumpling, Festival. If they are F1 the seeds most likely won't come true.

It's up to you whether you think it's worth a punt and if you have space for it.

I have grown seeds from F1 chillies - out of 10+ new plants I had one that was vaguely true to type and the others were a real disappointment in flavour and size. Until I know a lot more about F1s or cross-breeding I don't think I will be doing it again.

[Kristen]

The plants were F1's bought at the market. I know they are unlikely to be exactly the same but still worth a try I suppose?

Most people disagree with me, but I think its a waste of time and energy growing self-saved F1 seed.  There are exceptions, where F2 does well, but you have to sow the seed, allocate space for the plants to grow, wait for them to mature and be ready for harvesting - and only then discover that the crop was useless / tasteless.

My advice would be to sow enough known-variety seed that you guarantee to get a crop, and then experiment beyond that.  Over the years you can cultivate varieties that you know grow well from self-saved seed. If you want to save your own seeds then I suggest growing open-pollinated / heritage varieties, such as those available from http://realseeds.co.uk/ (who also provide instructions on how to self-save the seed)

[jambop]

well I used to keep bees and know they will fly for miles to collect their nectar and pollen but the nearest courgette plants would be a good five hundered metres away if they actually planted any out. There is a good chance the bees may just have pollenated from the courgette next to it? I will give them a try maybe.

[Beetroot Queen]

After this random year no more saving seeds from courgettes or any other squasharoonie.

Seeds are cheap enough fed up with random things popping up all over the plot 

[surbie100]

well I used to keep bees and know they will fly for miles to collect their nectar and pollen but the nearest courgette plants would be a good five hundered metres away if they actually planted any out. There is a good chance the bees may just have pollenated from the courgette next to it? I will give them a try maybe.

'tis a very good point, and at that distance, if they weren't F1 plants, I'd probably risk it too.