Can store-bought pumpkin seeds be planted?

Consider using store-bought pumpkin seeds if you're looking for a money-saving way to make your garden flourish with food that's outrageously on the grocery mark. Seed from organic pumpkins often does better than hybrid store varieties that have been chemically treated for improved shelf life. I have grown pie pumpkins from organic market fruits for three seasons. Whether you grow any depends on the type of pumpkin and also on the technique for seed preparation. Select pumpkins with mature seeds and hard rinds.

Start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost. Use tissue pots. Sow seeds 1 inch deep in seed-starting mix. I try to maintain soil temperatures at 75°F with heat mats. Your seedlings require approximately 14 hours of light from south-facing windows or grow lights. Transplant them after hardening off, when the soil temperature is 65°F.

Manage genetic variability - the plants that come from saved seeds may not resemble their pumpkin parents. Hybrids throw wild, odd things, and open-pollinated types, with a few exceptions, tend to stay truer. I plant several plants of each variety and select the best fruiters. Your "messing about" results could be that cosseted thing - a new, localized pumpkin variety to go!

Store your dried seeds in a cool, dark location in a paper envelope. Make sure to label the envelope with the type of pumpkin and the date it was harvested. I like to keep mine in airtight jars with silica packs. Your seeds, if stored properly, will remain viable for 4 to 6 years. You can test your old seeds with germination trials to determine if they are feasible for planting.

Read the full article: How to Grow Pumpkins Successfully