Preserving Pumpkin Seeds for Next Fall
Oct 31, 2024 10:50AM ● By Jen Gennaro
I've learned by living with my green thumb husband that the proper time to plant pumpkins in time for Halloween is approximately the 4th of July here in Louisiana.
I learned this last summer, when I arrived home to find him building a trellis for pumpkin seedlings. But TODAY is the day to prepare for next Halloween!
Sure, you could just get Home Depot seeds, but if you'd like to cultivate a love of gardening in your kids, and give yourself an extra chore, do this with the guts of your Jack-O-Lanterns:
Feed them to your Pets!
Consult your vet first, of course, but pumpkin seeds are a natural dewormer. They can be fed whole as a treat, or dried and ground up into the pet's food. General rule of thumb is 1 tsp per 10 lbs of bodyweight.
I learned this last summer, when I arrived home to find him building a trellis for pumpkin seedlings. But TODAY is the day to prepare for next Halloween!
Sure, you could just get Home Depot seeds, but if you'd like to cultivate a love of gardening in your kids, and give yourself an extra chore, do this with the guts of your Jack-O-Lanterns:
Feed them to your Pets!
Consult your vet first, of course, but pumpkin seeds are a natural dewormer. They can be fed whole as a treat, or dried and ground up into the pet's food. General rule of thumb is 1 tsp per 10 lbs of bodyweight.
Harvest and Clean the Seeds
Cut open your pumpkin and scoop out the seeds. Separate the seeds from the pulp, then rinse them under cool water. Be thorough, as any remaining pumpkin flesh can cause mold later.
Dry the Seeds
Spread the seeds on a paper towel in a single layer and let them dry in a cool, dry area for about a week. Once completely dry, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dark place until planting season.
To make a Magical Trellis
We used a miniature variety so they'd grow up the trellis and not grow too heavy. The trellis was made of simple cattle panel and metal stakes. Planted over the 4th of July weekend, the pumpkin vines were already growing by August. By October, magnificent blossoms, vines and little pumpkins had grown completely over the trellis.
To make a Magical Trellis
We used a miniature variety so they'd grow up the trellis and not grow too heavy. The trellis was made of simple cattle panel and metal stakes. Planted over the 4th of July weekend, the pumpkin vines were already growing by August. By October, magnificent blossoms, vines and little pumpkins had grown completely over the trellis.
Grow a pumpkin trellis [8 Images]
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