How to Save Pumpkin Seeds for Re-Planting Next Year
If you’re reading this, you probably still have a pumpkin or two hanging around that you just haven’t gotten around to throwing away yet. Maybe it’s because you’re just aren’t ready to let go of the warm feelings of autumn, or maybe you’re just lazy. No judgement here! Either way, today I’m going to how you how to save pumpkin seeds for re-planting next year.
It Starts With a Great Pumpkin
Every year I buy my seeds from Johnny’s Seeds. (No affiliation, just outstanding products!) As far as I’m concerned their quality is absolutely unsurpassed and I highly recommend them. This year we planted 100 pumpkin hills with 5 seeds each and had 500 successful plants. That is to say 100% germination. Well, every once in a while you get a pumpkin that is so perfect that you would like to have an entire field full of them. This was that year.
In September, we picked a beautiful pumpkin that weighed in at 57 lbs. It was so magnificent that it sat on my kitchen counter for everyone to admire until the first week of December.
My wife, Jackie, loved it too but she really needed the work space on her counter. I loved this pumpkin though, and just didn’t have the heart to kill it.
Jackie had finally had enough though and told me that she would do it if I didn’t. I told her, “No, it is my pumpkin and I will have to cowboy up and get it done.” So like a scene from Old Yeller, I walked out on the porch with tears in my eyes, my beloved pumpkin under my arm, and a knife.
How to Cut Your Pumpkin
I closed my eyes, steeled my nerves and cut into my pumpkin. I saw the guts spill from the bottom and then I saw the seeds. The SEEDS! Then it occurred to me. “Wait a minute! My pumpkin could have babies!”
So, with a new lease on life here is how I proceeded…
First I cut the bottom off of my pumpkin. This gives you easy access to all of the seeds.
Rinse Your Pumpkin Seeds Thoroughly
I then carefully collected all of the seeds in a colander. I rinsed the seeds several times in cool water to remove all of the slime and guts that hold bacteria and could cause my seeds to rot.
Allow Your Pumpkin Seeds to Dry
After the seeds were rinsed clean, I placed them on paper towels in a single layer to dry. Now I do not mean just dry to the touch, but dry thoroughly, inside and out. For this, the seeds should be left on the paper towels in a cool dry place for 3-4 weeks. Probably three weeks, but four just to be certain.
How to Properly Store Your Seeds
After about a month, the seeds should be placed in a paper envelope.
Not a plastic bag!
The plastic bag could hold moisture and does not breathe like paper. We do not want mold to form.
I marked the date on the envelope, and now I’m all done and ready for next year.
Conclusion
Saving my pumpkin seeds means next year I will have access to the same great genetics of my beautiful pet pumpkin. In the spring when I plant these, I could have hundreds of my favorite pumpkins. WOW, I am going to have to get a bigger counter-top!!
Thank you for spending some time with me.
Love, Peace, and Light.
Terry
Thistle Downs Farm