How to Save Pumpkin Seeds to Plant Next Year
The pumpkin is carved … now what to do with all those seeds?
Sure, you can roast them for a tasty treat. Or, if you want a fun fall gardening activity, save the seeds to plant next year. We recommend you do this with heirloom pumpkins – just ask your local farmer at the pumpkin patch or farmers market if the pumpkins they sell are heirloom or hybrid. Then check out our guide below to get started.
See more: Seed Saving 101: Harvest This Fall to Plant Next Spring
How to Save Pumpkin Seeds
- Cut the top off your pumpkin and scoop out all the pulp. A large spoon works well for this task.
- Separate the seeds from the pulp with your fingers, then place the seeds in a colander to rinse under cool water. Try to remove as much pulp as possible from each seed.
- Inspect the clean seeds carefully, and select the largest ones to save. Larger seeds will have a better chance of germinating and growing healthy vines.
- Spread the seeds on a layer of wax paper and allow to dry overnight. Pumpkin seeds are sticky, so wax paper works best for the initial drying period.
- Once the seeds are dry, line a baking sheet with paper towels. Spread the pumpkin seeds in a single layer.
- Place the tray in a cool, dark place for at least one month. This allows the seeds to become completely dry.
- After a month, sort through the seeds and discard any with mold or mildew. Place the good seeds in an envelope. They can be stored in the envelope until next year’s planting.
See more: How to Keep Carved Pumpkins Fresh in 4 Simple Steps
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[…] Save a few for this reason and give them a try next spring. If you are new to saving pumpkin seeds for planting, check out this post: Raise Your Own Pumpkins: Tips for Drying, Saving and Planting Seeds […]
Thank u for this it was great information.
Saving seeds for next year’s Halloween pumpkins as the drought and the pandemic wiped out most of California’s mom & pop pumpkin stands or patches. Thank you so much!!
Will seeds that froze in the pumpkin and then thawed during drying process be viable next planting season?
Do you mean that the pumpkin froze outside in the frost or in a freezer?
[…] Sure, you can roast them for a tasty treat. Or, if you want a fun fall gardening activity, save the seeds to plant next year. We recommend you do this with heirloom pumpkins – just ask your local farmer at the pumpkin patch or farmers market if the pumpkins they sell are heirloom or hybrid. via […]
How would l know when the right time to pick my seeds from a pumpkin, and if l leave it longer on the vine would the seeds be better. Thanks in advance.
Not an expert but pretty sure this is correct. If you leave them on the vine for too long, they will rot and therefore be bad to save. If you leave them on too short and pick them, they will also be bad because they are not ripe and the seeds are not developed enough. What would be the good thing to do is keep them on until it is a few days past what you would normally pick because the seeds have developed and they have not started to rot yet.
I left my seeds in water for about 24 hours I had planned to just clean them for a bit but life happened and I threw them in the fridge and got distracted. Now that they’re starting to dry they smell really bad. Should I just toss them? I have a lot of really good seeds from pumpkins we planted last year so I’m kind of sad about it.
I have beautiful gourds and pumpkins that are in a garbage can outside where it is freezing can I retrieve them and plant them next year next spring
[…] How to Save Pumpkin Seeds to Plant Next Year – Farm Flavor […]
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I kept my pumpkin seeds, straight from a pumpkin. Flowed all instructions about drying out and put in envelope in the refrigerator. Do I now put these seeds in my garden or in a pot indoors until they became small plants?
Hi Teresa,
That depends on how warm the weather is in your area this time of year. If you’ve passed your last frost date, you can plant them directly in the garden. If the weather is still cold where you are, you can start them in seed pots inside and transplant them outdoors once it’s warm enough and there’s no chance of frost. Hope this helps!
Rachel Graf
Digital Editor, Farm Flavor
[…] Pumpkin seeds are sticky, so wax paper works best for the initial drying period. Once the seeds are dry, line a baking sheet with paper towels. Spread the pumpkin seeds in a single layer. Place the tray in a cool, dark place for at least one month. via […]
[…] Spread the pumpkin seeds in a single layer. Place the tray in a cool, dark place for at least one month. This allows the seeds to become completely dry. via […]
[…] Holmberg, Kim. “How to Save Pumpkin Seeds to Plant Next Year.” Farm Flavor, 29 Sept. 2021, https://farmflavor.com/lifestyle/saving-seeds/. […]
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[…] Gardening- If you have space, use the pumpkin guts to create more pumpkins! Here’s a post on how to save your pumpkin seeds for next season! […]
my pumpkins were given to me how can i tell if they are hybrid or Heirloom?
You should grow pumpkins around June 15 to July 15 if you live in warmer parts of the state, like the Tidewater and Piedmont regions. Meanwhile, for cooler areas like northern Virginia, June 15 to July 5 will do.
Thank you for your expert advice and lovely site
I have two pumpkins I saved seeds from one has larger flat seeds and one has medium fat seeds is one better than the others to save?