Topic: Saving Cucumber seed for sharing circle :)

[Hector]

I'm in the second seed sharing circle :) I am growing mini white cukes (love them). How many cukes do folk recommend I leave to fully ripen for a decent supply of seeds to share...not done this before!!

[Jeannine]

Hector, I too have this one and have loads of it so don't worry if you start to run out, make sure you keep fat seeds, there are always some smaller duds. I just tried one  that was over mature to eat and about 1/3rd to 1/2 were good to save, the rest I chucked. XX Jeannine

[taurus]

do you save them the same tomatoe seed ?  I have a small outdoor cucumber that I want to save.  Any advice will be appreciated.

[Hector]

Thanks Jeannine, I was worrying I wouldn't get this  right :)

[Jeannine]

They don't have the gelatinous coating on like tomatoes so no need to ferment. I pick them, sort them, rinse them in a sieve, drain them and put them to dry on a paper plate,(not paper tissue) when thoroughly dry and won't bend I pack them.. I tend to leave them to dry a long time, same as squash as they seeds are quite big.

XX Jeannine

[taurus]

Many thanks Jeannine for the advice.  This the 1st year that I've tried to save seeds so its all new to me.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Leave them on the plant as long as you can, till the skins are hard, and the flesh possibly rotten. They can't be too ripe. Wash the gunk off through a sieve or a colander.