Squash is a staple for us, all through the year. These vegetables are going to keep you busy if you want to grow them. But it is worth it. For these vegetables I'm going to talk about seed saving first. There are some things that you must know, if you want to be successful. They are not difficult things, but they do require you to be observant.

There are 4 distinct types of squash: Cucurbita maxima, which includes the Hubbard and the Buttercup types; C. moschata, the butternut types; C. pepo, which includes green and yellow summer squash, pumpkins, and acorn squash; and C. mixta, which includes the Cushaw types. There is no cross pollination between any of these 4 types. However, there is cross pollination problems that exist between 2 different members of the same types.

You can see that both pumpkins and green summer squash are members of the Cucurbita pepo species. If the pollen from one of these plants gets carried to the other and fertilizes it, the seed from the fruit that is produced, when planted would bring forth a who knows what, when it came to maturity. So, to make it easy on yourself, plant only one kind of plant from each group, if you want to save seeds.

If you insist on growing more than one kind from each type, or if you think that it is possible that your neighbors, within a quarter of a mile, are growing the same type you have to take special pains to keep your seed pure. It is not hard, and it is not time consuming, but you need to know how to do it in the right way.

1. The first thing that you need to do is to learn to identify the male and the female flowers. The male flowers have a straight stem leading up to the flower, while the female flowers have what looks like a miniature squash at it's base.
2. Next, you need to observe the flower to see when they open. Usually when they are ready to open they will be an orange color. They will still retain a green color prior to that point.
3. When you have learned to identify the time of opening, after seeing some of them open, find a male and a female blossom on the same vine that are going to open the next day and tape them shut, or tie a bag over them both, so no insect can get inside.
4. The next morning, cut off the male flower with the stem still attached, and take off the petals of it's flowers.
5. Carry the male flower to the female and untie or untape the flower. If some of the flower petals get torn, that's no cause for concern.
6. Hold the male flower by it's stem, and rub the pollen covered anthers on the stigma of the female flower. The stigma is the part that protrudes from the center of the female flower.
7. Rebag or retape up the female flower for about three or four days and then remove the bag or tape.
8. Mark the fruit with a brightly colored piece of yarn so that you will know which fruit was hand pollinated.
9. Use a new male flower for each female that you pollinate. Mark each fruit that you pollinate.
10. Let the fruit that you pollinated stay on the vine until it is completely ripe (make sure that it doesn't rot) and bring it in for another 3 weeks or so. At that time open up the squash and scoop out the seeds. Rinse them with water, and dry them on a paper towel. When completely dry store them in a cool dry place. Mark the variety and date on the container. Eat the squash if it is still good.