I have grown courgettes for two years now, using bought seed and have had
great success but, because, I only grow one or two courgettes, I thought
that I would save some of the seeds from this year's harvest and use those -
after all, I throw away most the packet of seeds as they become out of
date...



I have read, however, that using your own seeds may mean that the courgette
doesn't grow true and the seeds may not be virus free.



Has anyone any experience and advice on this, please?

"John Vanini" wrote in message
news
I have grown courgettes for two years now, using bought seed and have had
great success but, because, I only grow one or two courgettes, I thought
that I would save some of the seeds from this year's harvest and use
those - after all, I throw away most the packet of seeds as they become out
of date...



I have read, however, that using your own seeds may mean that the
courgette doesn't grow true and the seeds may not be virus free.



Has anyone any experience and advice on this, please?

This year one of mine grew from a seed that was left in the ground and it's
perfect

On Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:35:47 GMT, "John Vanini"
wrote:

I have grown courgettes for two years now, using bought seed and have had
great success but, because, I only grow one or two courgettes, I thought
that I would save some of the seeds from this year's harvest and use those -
after all, I throw away most the packet of seeds as they become out of
date...

I have read, however, that using your own seeds may mean that the courgette
doesn't grow true and the seeds may not be virus free.

Has anyone any experience and advice on this, please?

I saved seed from a pumpkin one year, and also grew courgettes.
I had one large, marrow-shaped, pumpkin-coloured and pumpkin-textured
"thing"; Marrette? Pumpow? Sadly I did not save the seed. I could
have introduced a new variety.
So it depends what else you grow. Of course you will have to let one
courgette ripen to a marrow before the seeds will be ripe.

Pam in Bristol

On 1 Aug, 05:35, "John Vanini" wrote:
I have read, however, that using your own seeds may mean that the courgette
doesn't grow true and the seeds may not be virus free.

It's the same as with most things. If the variety is an F1 Hybrid it
will revert to some of the parent characteristics. So those won't
"grow true" in the sense of exactly matching the variety chosen. But
they will be perfectly good courgettes nevertheless.

If not a hybrid variety, then they will probably grow pretty much as
the previous crop, depending on what pollinated the crop.

"Pam Moore" wrote ...
I saved seed from a pumpkin one year, and also grew courgettes.
I had one large, marrow-shaped, pumpkin-coloured and pumpkin-textured
"thing"; Marrette? Pumpow? Sadly I did not save the seed. I could
have introduced a new variety.

Surely it was either a courgkin or a pumpette? :-)
--
Regards
Bob Hobden
17mls W. of London.UK

In article ,
"Bob Hobden" writes:
| "Pam Moore" wrote ...
| I saved seed from a pumpkin one year, and also grew courgettes.
| I had one large, marrow-shaped, pumpkin-coloured and pumpkin-textured
| "thing"; Marrette? Pumpow? Sadly I did not save the seed. I could
| have introduced a new variety.
|
| Surely it was either a courgkin or a pumpette? :-)

Not if it was grown to maturity. A markin or a pumpow.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Thanks to all for your replies.

Yet another mystery of gardening solved!

I didn't know about letting the courgette grow to a marrow but that's
obvious, now.

I've now got all excited - I'd love to grow a marrette, a pumpow, a courgkin
or a pumpette! I'm easily excited these days!


Regards,

John

wrote in message
oups.com...
On 1 Aug, 05:35, "John Vanini" wrote:
I have read, however, that using your own seeds may mean that the
courgette
doesn't grow true and the seeds may not be virus free.

It's the same as with most things. If the variety is an F1 Hybrid it
will revert to some of the parent characteristics. So those won't
"grow true" in the sense of exactly matching the variety chosen. But
they will be perfectly good courgettes nevertheless.

If not a hybrid variety, then they will probably grow pretty much as
the previous crop, depending on what pollinated the crop.

On 1 Aug 2007 10:54:44 GMT, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:


In article ,
"Bob Hobden" writes:
| "Pam Moore" wrote ...
| I saved seed from a pumpkin one year, and also grew courgettes.
| I had one large, marrow-shaped, pumpkin-coloured and pumpkin-textured
| "thing"; Marrette? Pumpow? Sadly I did not save the seed. I could
| have introduced a new variety.
|
| Surely it was either a courgkin or a pumpette? :-)

Not if it was grown to maturity. A markin or a pumpow.

Yes, actually, I put it in the local show ( unusual vegetables) and
named it pumpette ( thanks Bob for the reminder!)
It won £1, first prize, but was the only exhibit in that class!

Pam in Bristol