Thing is, between regular store-bought plants and volunteers, I ALWAYS go volunteers, whenever possible. Just harvest the seeds and re-plant in the spring.
Volunteers show they have the right genetics to grow in your (or my) conditions.
There are a few exceptions, like potatoes, which I would not recommend.
Happy planting!!!
I save seed too. My pumpkin seed is second generation from a store bought. Last year I did manage to bring in two nice pie pumpkins from one plant. I hoped I might double my crop by planting three plants. I have two softball sized pumpkins, one is turning orange, which makes them less than on third expected size.
I doubt that the seed will be viable so I’ll have to use the 2014 seed next year. I’m fighting a very short season at 7,600 feet and this spring was miserably cold and wet. Hoping for a better May in 2016.
Oh, as for taters ... usually I plant red potatoes I bought at the store that start sprouting. Or they volunteer in the compost pile no intentional planting involved.
I bought some Purple Majesty seed taters this year and planted five mounds in front of the pumpkins. They grew like crazy and I expect to dig up several pounds of purple taters very soon. I can see numerous nice ones breaking the surface. That and three monster Brussels Sprouts plants were my successes this year while most everything else just couldn’t get going.