Save Your Pumpkin Seeds To Grow New Gourds In Your Garden Next Season: Here’s How
As you carve up pumpkins for Halloween, don’t just throw away the seeds. Saving pumpkin seeds to grow next season is the ultimate fall project. It’s probably easier to do than you think.
Imagine growing your own pumpkins to use for jack-o’-lanterns or baking homemade pies next year! Here’s how to save pumpkin seeds to plant and grow pumpkins right in your backyard.
Choose a pumpkin
The ideal pumpkin for this task will be ripe and round. The pumpkin you pick should also be from a plant that is an heirloom or open-pollinated.
Do not choose a hybrid because seeds from hybrid plants will not produce genetically similar offspring, making the pumpkins harder to grow.
Scoop out the seeds
Cut the top of your pumpkin open with a sharp knife. Carve a circle around the stem. Next, use a large spoon to scoop out all the seeds. Place the seeds in a strainer. It’s okay if the pumpkin’s innards are mixed in with them.
Rinse the seeds
Rinse the seeds in the sink under a stream of cool water to clean the pulp off them. You may need to get your hands dirty to get rid of any pulp stuck to the seeds. When you’re done, the seeds should not have any orange residue.
New Africa – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
Dry the seeds
Arrange a layer of paper towels, paper plates, or wax paper on top of a cookie sheet. Then, dump the clean seeds onto the sheet. Spread them out so that they rest on the sheet in a single layer.
Make sure they’re not touching. This will help them dry more quickly and thoroughly. Set the tray of seeds in a cool, dry area. It should take about a week for them to dry completely.
At least once a day, stir them around and flip them over to speed up the process and allow both sides to dry. If you see any mold growth, your storage space must not be cool or dry enough.
Store the seeds in an envelope
When the seeds are white and have a papery texture, that means they are totally dry. Transfer them into an envelope and label the envelope with the date and type of pumpkin the seeds are from. Store the seeds in a cool, dry spot until it’s time for planting.
Avoid storing the pumpkin seeds in an area that exceeds 60 degrees Fahrenheit because that is the temperature at which pumpkin seeds start germinating. If necessary, put the seeds in the refrigerator in an airtight container. They can last for one year when properly stored.
Plant the seeds
Typically, pumpkins are planted in May through June so they can be ready by early October. Start your pumpkin seeds inside. Once a seedling has developed, transfer them to an outdoor garden after the last frost.
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