Gourd seeds can be a bit tough to find. Often they cannot be found locally and have to be ordered online. This is especially true for the many less common varieties of gourds. The good news is that gourd seeds are very easy to save. So after your initial seed purchase, you will be able to grow the same gourds year after year with a bit of preparation.
How to Save Your Own Gourd Seeds
- Let gourds dry.
- Choose the best gourd to collect seeds from. You want one that is a good size and shape with a very thick strong shell.
- Cut open the gourd to collect the seeds. You can cut the gourd to make a birdhouse or some other project and collect the seeds at this time. If the gourd is dried properly the seeds will be mostly loose inside. You may need to use a wooden spoon or some other tool to get the seeds out.
- Clean and sort the seeds. Remove the fluff from the seeds and sort out any bad seeds. The viable seeds will be off-white and strong. If you gently try to break the seeds you will be able to tell which are fully developed and which break easily.
- Spread out your seeds in a dry place for a few days to ensure they are fully dry so they do not get mouldy while in storage.
- Store seeds in a dark, dry, cool place. Storing your seeds in a paper envelope allows for good airflow to avoid mould.