It’s that time of the year! Pumpkin time. It is also the time of the year where your kids get like 15 of these bad boys (some are sugar ones - save those) and you don’t know what to do with them all. Well, carve them of course, display them, and roast their seeds - some of them anyway.
But save some of those seeds to plant next year. We all know, mostly because I have been talking about it non-stop, that I have plenty of room for planting this upcoming spring. And with that comes my desire to save seeds. Pumpkins are high up there on the list of seeds to save for two reasons: 1. Because I hoard sugar pumpkins like they are going out of style and I’d love to produce my own. 2. Because we have so many opportunities to save these seeds and many of those opportunities we waste. Not this year!
Big garden, small garden, or just a little plot of land, pumpkins can be super easy to grow. Save some seeds, plant them next spring!
Here’s how:
First, make sure you get your pumpkins from a place that you know. You will want to save the seeds of heirloom pumpkins, not hybrids. Knowing where the plants you are harvesting seeds from is key. I like to make sure (especially if I will be eating them) that they were grown organically and by a farmer that I know. You don’t need to do this for all of your pumpkins (though that would be great!) just the ones you are saving seeds from.
After scooping out the pulp and seeds, transfer them to a colander so that you can wash them well.
You want to choose the largest seeds (best chance of germination). And you clearly aren’t going to plant 100 unless maybe you want to. But realize that not everyone you plant will germinate. Success rate tends to be about 30ish%.
Rinse the seeds and dry them on a towel. Make sure to spread them out so they don’t stick together.
Thoroughly dry them out in a cool spot for a week or two before transferring to an envelope.
Store them in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to use next spring. Your refrigerator is a good suggestion, all the way in the back! I store mine down in the basement.
Do you save and use pumpkin seeds from year to year?
I say EVERY year that I will save my pumpkin seeds and then plant the following year. It’s NEVER happened, but you’ve inspired me. I would LOVE to walk out into my backyard and pick our own pumpkins. I bet you can have your own pumpkin patch next season!
O’Boy! Organic recently posted…Preventing Baby Constipation Naturally
We haven’t carved a pumpkin in years but this year we will and I am planning on roasting the seeds.
Heather recently posted…Baby’s First Halloween ($75 Babies“R”Us Gift Card Giveaway)
Thank you so much! I was about to Google this very question the other day, but I got distracted. Now I have my answer.
I meant to plant pumpkins in our little garden this past summer, but it didn’t happen. A local grower told me to put the seeds in the ground on July 1st, so I will put it on my calendar for next summer and dry out some seeds from our farm share pumpkins.
Annemarie (Real Food Real Deals) recently posted…Chicken Chili
Wonderful! And you know exactly where your pumpkins are coming from!
Great tips. I love how pretty pumpkins look in fields. Too bad our HOA would have a freak out if we tried to plant a pumpkin!
Life with Kaishon recently posted…The Creativity Project :: October, 2014 :: Hands, Toes, Wrinkles
That stinks! Maybe someday:)
I’ve never thought about doing this! Great idea
Caitlin recently posted…Creative Galaxy
Thanks Caitlin! You’ll have your very own pumpkin patch next year:)
I used to save the bush pumpkin seeds we grew. I love those bush pumpkins! They were greenish and orange. I’ve never seen them anywhere but at Home Depot a few years ago.
Barb @ A Life in Balance recently posted…Easy Halloween Decorations: Chalkboard Table Runner
Huh! I’ll need to keep an eye out for them!
Great tip! One of these years, I will save seed, so I have to flag this post to remember how.
Becky recently posted…International Can-It-Forward Day
I am going to have my husband read this tomorrow b/c we just put our seeds aside to save.