Pumpkin seeds are large and relatively easy to harvest, and saving the seeds for future gardening requires just a few extra steps.
Choose a pumpkin that looks ripe and shapely—essentially your ideal pumpkin. Look for a pumpkin from a plant that is an heirloom or open-pollinated and not a hybrid. Seeds from hybrid plants won’t produce offspring that are genetically similar to the parent plant, while seeds from open-pollinated plants will. Using seeds from an open-pollinated plant will ensure that you’re growing the best pumpkin possible.
Instructions
Scoop Out the Seeds
Use a sharp knife to carefully cut open your pumpkin by cutting a circle around the stem. If you’re not using your pumpkin for decorative purposes, you can also just cut it in half for easier access.
Then, dig in with your spoon and scoop out all the seeds and place them in your strainer. Don’t worry about getting pulp mixed in with the seeds; you’ll separate them in the next step.
Rinse and Strain Seeds
Rinse the pumpkin seeds in the strainer under cool, running water to get rid of the pulp.
Some pulp will be stubborn and stick to the seeds, so you may need to use your hands to rub it off completely. The end goal is to have clean seeds without any orange residue.
Lay Seeds on a Cookie Sheet
Prepare your cookie sheet by placing a layer of paper towels, paper plates, or waxed paper on top.
Then, dump your clean pumpkin seeds onto the sheet in a single layer, breaking up any clumps of seeds. Keeping individual seeds separate will help them dry completely.
Let Them Dry
Set the cookie sheet with seeds aside in a cool, dry area to allow the seeds to fully dry. The drying process should take about a week, but the total time will vary depending on how cool and dry your space is.
Keep an Eye on Your Seeds
Keep an eye on your seeds until they are all completely dry. Stir them at least once a day and flip seeds over to allow them to dry on both sides. Break up any clumps that form and continue allowing them to dry in a cool, dry area.
If mold appears, you likely don’t have a cool or dry enough storage spot and need to move them to save the non-molded seeds.
Store in Envelope
You’ll know your seeds are completely dry once they’re white in color on all sides and they feel papery.
Place the dry seeds into a sealable envelope, label it with the date and the pumpkin variety, and store the seeds in a cool, dry place until it’s time to plant them.
Storing Saved Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds will germinate at 60 F, so avoid storing your saved seeds in an area that will exceed this temperature at any point. If needed, you can store your seeds in your refrigerator in an airtight container. Stored in a cool, dry place, dried pumpkin seeds can successfully last one year.
If you save seeds from a large pumpkin or two, you’ll likely have many more seeds than you need for next year’s garden.