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Pumpkins, Squash & Gourds

saving mini pumpkin seeds

15 years ago

A couple years ago I tossed some mini pumpkins that rotted into my compost. Lo and behold the next year, when I spread the compost I had a couple mini pumpkin vines growing and producing (not to mention a cantaloupe kind of thing and an acorn squash and a volunteer tomato. All from the compost).

So is it safe to say that if I save the seeds from the minis I bought this year that I will get minis next year? Or did I just win the hybrid lottery?

Comment (1)

weirdtrev
15 years ago
You should be able to get mini pumpkins fairly reliably. I think luck definitely played a part, but if the mini pumpkins were in a pile of other mini pumpkins and not mixed in with ornamental gourds, then there is a good chance they grew that way in a field. When saving open pollinated seeds ornamental gourds tend to have much more obvious variability than mini pumpkins. If you absolutely want mini pumpkins you should buy fresh seeds.
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