Seed Saving: How to Save Pumpkin Seeds

Have you ever seen a pumpkizinni? Pumpkins are known for readily crossing with other members of the squash family, making for some pretty interesting hybrids. But with some basic tips, you can easily learn exactly how to save pumpkin seeds from your garden!

 

How to Save Pumpkin Seeds

1. Find out what species your pumpkins are and what are other plants they can cross with
2. Isolate pumpkins from related plants by 1/4 mile or hand pollinate to avoid unwanted crosses
3. Mark hand pollinated pumpkins for seed
4. At harvest time, wash seeds with mild soap, rinse and pat dry. Dry thoroughly and store in paper envelopes.

 

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Pumpkins are one of the most popular members of the squash family. They are fun and easy to grow, make festive fall decorations, and who doesn’t love pumpkin pie piled high with freshly whipped cream?

By learning how to save seeds from pumpkins, you can have your favorite variety year after year for free!

Pumpkins are an easy vegetable to save seeds from if you know a few basics!

 

Pumpkin Seed Saving Mix-ups

 

Pollinated by insects, pumpkins can cross with other pumpkin varieties, and with other members of the same species growing up to half a mile away!

Most kinds of pumpkins are the species, Cucurbita pepo. That means that they can cross with other C. pepo members, such as zucchini, crookneck squash, acorn squash and gourds. They won’t cross with other species of squash. You can check on your seed packet, or in a seed catalog to see what species your favorite pumpkin is!

In a minute, we’ll get to how to save pumpkin seeds that are pure, but first I’d like to talk a little more about pumpkin species.

 

 

Some Pumpkin Varieties that are members of C. pepo

• New England Pie aka Small Sugar Pumpkin
• Long Pie Pumpkin
• Youngs Beauty
• Tom Fox Pumpkin
• Connecticut Field Pumpkin
• Winter Luxury Pie Pumpkin
• Howden
• Wee-B-Little
• Jack Be Little
• Autumn Gold Pumpkin
• Baby Pam
• Lady Godiva Pumpkin

These C. Pepo pumpkins can be cross pollinated with other C. pepo members, including zucchini, crookneck squash, patty pan or scallop squash, small ornamental gourds, spaghetti squash, sweet dumpling and delicata squash.

 

 

Some Pumpkin Varieties that are members of Cucurbita maxima

• Atlantic Giant
• Big Max Pumpkin
• Moranga aka Pink Pumpkin
• Jarrahdale
• Marina di Chiogga
• Rouge Vif d’Etampes
• Lumina Pumpkin

 

These C. Maxima pumpkin varieties will not cross with any C. pepo varieties. They will, however, cross with each other and with buttercup, hubbard, banana and turban squashes.

 

How to Keep Pumpkins from Crossing with Other Squashes

 

The most important part of learning how to save seeds from pumpkins is avoiding unwanted cross pollination!

Insects can carry pumpkin and squash pollen 1/4 to 1/2 a mile. If you or your neighbors are growing other squashes that could cross with your pumpkin, you’ll need to hand pollinate.

Don’t worry, pumpkins are easy to hand pollinate and the process just takes a few minutes!

 

  

 

Pumpkins have separate male and female flowers.

A male flower grows on a straight stem and has an anther in the center of the flower, which is covered in yellow pollen, while a female flower has a small fruit attached before it even opens. The male flower above has already opened and probably been contaminated with other pollen by bees, so should not be used for hand pollination.

To hand-pollinate, male and female flowers that have not opened yet, like the female flower in the second picture, are selected in the evening and taped shut with a piece of masking tape. Ideally, male and female flowers from two different plants of the same variety should be selected to protect genetic diversity and prevent inbreeding.

In the morning, remove the tape. Pick the male flower and remove its petals, then use it like a paintbrush to dust the pollen into the center of the female flower (called the stigma). You can also use a literal paintbrush to pick up pollen from the male and transfer it to the female flower.

 

 

After hand pollination, the female flower should be taped back shut or covered to prevent bees from contaminating it with pollen from other varieties. Tie a string or twisty tie around the stem so you’ll remember to save that pumpkin for seed, or scratch a mark onto it with your fingernail.

This will keep your pumpkin seeds pure.

 

 

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How to Harvest Seeds from Pumpkins

 

To harvest seeds from pumpkins, let the fruit grow until it is completely mature and hard.

After the fruit is picked, I like to store it for a few weeks or more, just to make sure the seeds are fully ripe. Cut open the pumpkin and remove the seeds. Gently rinse with warm water and remove any pulp (you can use a little mild dish soap if desired). Dry thoroughly and store for next year!

 

 

Want to learn more about how to save seeds from pumpkins and other garden vegetables? Check out our affordable online seed saving course! Our course will teach you everything you need to know to save seeds from your garden in just a couple hours’ time!

 

Happy seed saving!

-Kait