How to Save Pumpkin Seeds to Plant Next Year

06.06.2023 - 19:54 / gardenerspath.com / Winter Squash / Rose Kennedy

Friends and neighbors who have you in their lives to grow pumpkins to share with them are fortunate indeed. Pies, fall displays, jack-o’-lanterns – all are provided for.

You can extend this good fortune by saving seeds, too, so all of you can plant them in the garden next year.

Seed libraries, community members, and other nearby gardeners might appreciate the extras.

And of course, you’ll benefit as well, with more funds left over in the gardening budget, and the security of growing a variety that’s already a proven success.

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Here, we’ll cover the basics of collecting, drying, and storing, whether you’re growing a cultivar of Cucurbita pepo, C. moschata, or C. maxima. Here’s what to expect:

Maybe you’re eyeing that beauty from the home store you plan to carve, or a pie variety you brought home from the farmers market.

Or are you wondering if you can save seeds from pumpkins you grew yourself?

In any of those scenarios, this caution applies: Don’t try to save any from hybrid varieties.

They’re fine to roast and eat, but saved hybrid seeds won’t grow “true” to the parent plant.

This means the new plants probably won’t produce fruits that resemble the ones from your plant or the market. Nor will they possess the other qualities the hybrid was bred for, like disease resistance or high yields.

If you grew these wonderful winter squashes yourself, you’ll know if you have a hybrid variety on hand. Just look at the seed packet, or re-reference the vendor where you purchased them.

Any cultivars with “F1” as part of their name or