First of all, I will note one of the most important facts - if your type of cucumber does not belong to ordinary varieties, but to hybrids, then, unfortunately, it will not work to collect good seed from it. Such vegetables can be distinguished by marking F1 or F2, and the decisive differences are as follows:
- hybrids may not have seeds at all in the fruit;
- the few seeds available have a low percentage of germination;
- bushes grown from hybrid seeds may be fruitless;
- second-year hybrids do not have the original qualities characteristic of first-years: resistance to cold and drought, immunity to pathogens, etc.
This is because all hybrids are designed for a one-year planting, and if it is a hybrid cucumber that is important to you, then you need to buy its planting material again.
When choosing seeds of a regular variety, it is quite possible to use the harvested crop. I will reveal one important secret - you should choose fruits with four seed chambers, it is from these that female flowers are formed, which are responsible for the formation of ovaries.
Growing features
The selected fruits must be kept on the beds until fully ripened - the cucumbers should turn noticeably yellow and soften the dense skin. In order not to initially lose them in the thickets, you can mark them with a bright thread or ribbon. I also recommend placing a wooden or plastic plank under the fruit to avoid rot and mold. I note an important feature: cucumbers should be laid on seeds at the very end of the fruitful period, when they will not interfere with the formation of new fruits and will not be able to affect the amount of the crop.
Collect ready-made cucumbers, based on three terms:
- with complete yellowing and softening of the skin;
- when the stalk dries up;
- after the first severe frost (it is believed that the cold strengthens the seeds).
After cutting the cucumbers, I leave them to “reach” on the windowsill for another couple of weeks.
The step-by-step process of extracting seeds from fruits and drying them is as follows:
- The fruits are cleaned and wiped, eliminating pollution.
- With a sharp knife, carefully cut the cucumber in half.
- Carefully scoop out the seeds with a spoon and place them on a plate. It is important not to use metal utensils, it is better to choose a wooden bowl separately for this.
- Cucumber juice should cover the grains with a thin layer. If the fruit is too dry and there is not enough liquid, then you can add a small amount of clean warm water.
- A plate of seeds is placed in a warm place (usually near a stove or heater) for 2-3 days. During this period, the juice has time to ferment slightly, and the outer layer comes off the seeds.
- After three days, the seeds are washed with running water, vegetable debris is removed and again soaked for a day in clean warm water.
- All floating "dummy" is thrown away, only drowned, dense grains are selected - it is from them that it will be possible to grow new plants.
- Water is drained from the plate, the seeds are washed again and laid out on a paper or cloth towel to collect excess liquid.
- After a slight short drying, the seeds are laid out on a sheet of thick paper or wood in one layer and removed until completely dry.
On average, the process takes 3-4 days. The best way to dry will be the daytime location of the seeds in the fresh air in the shade and the nighttime placement in the room.
After the set time, the grains are removed in linen or paper bags for storage. Seed material for the best harvest is kept for 3 years.
Do you harvest your own seeds or use store-bought ones?
Read also: Cucumbers Gunnar F1: variety description. Important characteristics, advantages and rules of agricultural technology
Another related article: Cucumber seedlings: which cups to choose for convenience and benefit
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