Everything about Pumpkins, from carving to seed baking, and seed collecting for planting next year we have you covered here.
As you approach early October and your pumpkins reach full size and color you can harvest them when the stems have turned brown. Even if your pumpkin has not reached its full color you can harvest and it will continue to ripen and reach full color.
This pumpkin was a volunteer that came up without me even planting it. It weighed in at a whopping 61lbs and produced an abundance of seeds for eating and for next years plantings.
Once you have harvested them and you begin to carve them for Halloween you need to remember that you can collect the seeds from your best pumpkins to grow for next year.
Seed Collecting for Planting Next Year
Collecting these seeds is very easy since they are much larger than most seeds.
All it takes is the time to separate the seeds from the pumpkin flesh, place them in a colander, and rinse off several times to get all of the pumpkin flesh off. Once they are clean you can place them on wax paper to dry for 7-10 days before placing them in an envelope in a dark cool place until planting time next year.
It is critical to make sure your seeds are dry and best to store them in paper so that any moisture will be wicked away.
Be sure you label each of the different varieties you are saving so that you know what variety you are planting.
Seed Collecting for Eating
You can follow the same process as collecting for planting up to the point of drying for 7-10 days. The seeds should be dried off with a towel for a few hours or overnight so that they will be crunchy when you add the seasoning you prefer and bake them.’
Recipes for Pumpkin Seeds
You can make Pumpkin Seeds in many different ways, here are a few of my favorites that you can use to make your pumpkin seeds. Once you have cleaned the seeds and rinsed them off they need to be dried to bake them and make them crispy. Dry on a towel to prepare your seeds.
Spicey Pumpkin Seeds
Mix all the dry ingredients before adding the melted butter and other wet ingredients, stir to mix the butter and dry ingredients add seeds, and stir until thoroughly coated.
Place seeds on a lined baking sheet, and bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes.
Melt 1 Tablespoon of butter
1 teaspoon Worchester Sauce
1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Paprika
1 teaspoon Black Pepper
1/2-1 teaspoon Garlic Salt
Optional to add Cajun spices to add a little kick
Sweet Pumpkin Seeds
Mix dry ingredients before adding the melted butter and other wet ingredients, stir to mix the butter and dry ingredients add seeds, and stir until thoroughly coated.
Place the seeds on a cookie sheet that has been lined with wax paper. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes watching to make sure the sugar does not burn the seeds.
Melt 1 Tablespoon of butter
3-5 teaspoons Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
1-2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
For added spice add pumpkin spice mix to taste
You can mix and match any spices to your liking to highlight the flavors you enjoy snacking on the most to make these pumpkin seeds a great snack for your family.
Storing Pumpkin Seeds
If you are storing them to eat within a month of baking you can keep them in an air-tight container for up to 30 days
For storing for 1-3 months you should store them in the refrigerator.
If you want to enjoy them for 3-6 months or even up to 1 year you can freeze them to enjoy long after your pumpkins have been harvested and the seeds baked.
Now that you know the Pumpkins A-Z you need to carve and save the seeds for growing next year or snacking on.
