From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Princeville, IL

Last year had a 196 pound bg that I waited until it dryed to harvest seed ( spring). couldn't get any of them to germinate. Have a 188, 215, and 223 uow's pounders this year and would like to get viable seed. Harvested the 188 today. gourds have set in my shed for the last month and have not frozen solid. Should I be harvesting them now or wait? I am guessing the white seeds are immature and should not be harvested? Harvested only the dark brown ones. How do you get all the slime off the seed? Rinsed several times and towel dried but still had some seeds with slime coats.

11/30/2017 4:19:02 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

I washed them in warm soapy water then dried them for two weeks on a rack. Just like the pumpkin seeds

11/30/2017 4:37:30 PM

Cincinnati,OH

I would harvest now. The slime will flake off after drying. I'm not familiar with bushel gourd seeds but empty seeds will fly away after drying.

11/30/2017 6:03:19 PM

Partlow,Va

I agree with Ron and Linus. I dried mine for three weeks because of the size of them just to be sure. Maybe waiting to cut it made a chemical reaction to cause the slime?

11/30/2017 6:16:01 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I agree with Linus. You can speed the drying by putting a fan on them.

12/1/2017 5:15:05 AM

Bethlehem CT

I usually like to let the "blubber" break down. I had a hard time my first year growing BG's because I tried to get the seeds out right away. It was a tremendous amount of work! Now I let the gourds sit and start to ferment. It is much quicker and easier to get clean seed that way. I don't think it would be good for the seeds, if the gourds freeze.

12/5/2017 9:55:12 AM

Princeville, IL

am doing line Linus said. They looked much better after washing and as Ron said the slime if flaking off while drying. Also do have a fan on them. In fact I have them sitting on top a 24 inch fan in wire racks with the fan turned to blow up. Have to have a top on the rack as the empty ones blow out and fly all over the room.

12/5/2017 12:03:07 PM