Can You Take Pumpkin Seeds Out of a Pumpkin & Plant Them?

Plant seeds from your homegrown pumpkins.

Non-hybrid or heirloom pumpkin varieties produce seeds true to the parent plant as long as they are pollinated correctly. Hybrid pumpkin types usually produce seed that won't germinate or that grows an inferior pumpkin. Seed envelopes or plant tags indicate whether the pumpkin is a hybrid, which allows you to choose only varieties that produce viable seed.

Pollination

Pumpkins readily cross-pollinate with other varieties, which results in seed that doesn't produce true to the parent plant. Saving pumpkin seeds successfully requires careful control during pollination. Male flowers form a longer stalk than females. Female flowers have a swollen portion at the base that later develops into the pumpkin. Rubbing the male flower's pollen onto the female flower early in the morning when the blooms first open prevents bees from pollinating the female. Using a paper clip to hold the female flower closed after hand-pollination prevents further pollination so cross-pollination doesn't occur and the flower produces a fruit with true seed. Mark hand-pollinated flowers with a plant tie around the stem so you know which fruits to save seed from.

Harvesting Seed

Pumpkins ripen fully when the rind becomes hard and turns completely orange. Once fully ripened, the seeds inside have developed fully and become viable. The seeds require rinsing once scooped from the interior of the pumpkin to remove the slimy pulp and fibrous strings. Pumpkin seeds rot if stored moist, so they require a drying period. Spreading them out on paper towels and allowing them to dry for five to seven days removes the excess moisture.

Storing Seed

Moisture during storage poses the greatest hazard to the seeds. A desiccant, such as a silica gel packet, absorbs any excess moisture so the seeds don't mildew or rot. Storing the seeds in an airtight container, such as a glass jar, with the desiccant further protects the seeds from moisture. Cool temperatures help extend the life of the stored seeds, so an unheated room or a refrigerator provides the optimum storage conditions. Pumpkin seeds remain viable for up to five years when properly stored.

Planting

Pumpkin seeds won't germinate in cold soil, so they are planted in the garden only after all frost danger passes in spring or early summer. The pumpkins grow best in well-drained soil in beds that receive full sunlight. Plant spacing depends on the variety, with vining types spaced 5 to 6 feet apart and bush types spaced 3 feet apart. Seeds are planted 1 inch deep regardless of variety. The seeds germinate quickly if the soil is kept moist, usually within seven to 10 days. While pumpkin seeds remain viable for several years, the best germination rate usually occurs within the first one to two years after saving the seeds.

References

• Washington State University Extension; Seed Saving; Valerie Rose; September 2010
• University of Illinois Extension: Growing Pumpkins