Undeveloped squash seeds

Yesterday I picked a yellow zucchini that I’d let get big to save for seed. The rind was hard, didn’t dent with my fingernail. I cut it open and found the seeds were all undeveloped, tiny, flat. Didn’t think to take pics, just gave the chickens a treat. Any ideas what went wrong?

I have not tried to keep seeds, but a family friend would from his garden.

His process was to let the fruit stay on the vine until a few days before the first expected frost. These things were monsters, big and solid, and had no tinge of edible flesh.

I'll be curious to see what people have to say, I want to try seed saving next year now that I know what grows best in my area this year.

Is it possible that the variety has been bred to set without fertilisation? I'm pretty sure this is the case for modern cucumbers to avoid the bitter taste and wonder if the same could be true for some zucchini?

Nancy Reading wrote:Is it possible that the variety has been bred to set without fertilisation? I'm pretty sure this is the case for modern cucumbers to avoid the bitter taste and wonder if the same could be true for some zucchini?

It was an heirloom variety, and I have gotten a cross with it before, as the pollinator.

Are you growing other squash? Maybe it was pollinated by something that was only partially compatible, so that it triggered the fruit to grow but didn't produce seed.

Burra Maluca wrote:Are you growing other squash? Maybe it was pollinated by something that was only partially compatible, so that it triggered the fruit to grow but didn't produce seed.

Hmm, that’s an interesting thought. I did grow other species of squashes.