Pumpkin Seeds

[Belo]

I know this has come up a few times, but I've been amazed the last few years at my compost pile that I spread in the garden, just how many pumpkins sprouted. Led me to think that saving the kids seeds this fall and scattering them in the spring might be fun. Worst case nothing grows. Best case we get a little pumpkin patch for the kids and the deer. Not sure how well they'll survive the rabbits and stuff, but wondering if anyone has ever done a "half assed" pumpkin patch?

https://blog.southernexposure.com/2021/10/6-easy-steps-to-saving-pumpkin-seeds/#:~:text=Store seeds in an airtight,do a germination test here.

 

[The Back 40]

I tried growing a legit pumpkin patch 2 years ago. started them in cups, planted, fertilized, watered them and barely got anything.  The old Halloween pumpkins that we chucked in the back field seeded themselves and grew great.

This year we will be doing the same. save our pumpkin seeds, chuck them out back and see what grows.

[Belo]

14 minutes ago, The Back 40 said:

I tried growing a legit pumpkin patch 2 years ago. started them in cups, planted, fertilized, watered them and barely got anything.  The old Halloween pumpkins that we chucked in the back field seeded themselves and grew great.

This year we will be doing the same. save our pumpkin seeds, chuck them out back and see what grows.

yeah it's wild in a way how sometimes less effort can yield better results. 

[just lucky]

I saved all the seeds from the grandkids pumpkins this year. 

I rinsed them well, and dried them in a spaghetti strainer. Took about 4 days. Bagged them and put in refrigerator till spring.

I am gonna try planting about 3 acres this june

[Robhuntandfish]

48 minutes ago, Belo said:

I know this has come up a few times, but I've been amazed the last few years at my compost pile that I spread in the garden, just how many pumpkins sprouted. Led me to think that saving the kids seeds this fall and scattering them in the spring might be fun. Worst case nothing grows. Best case we get a little pumpkin patch for the kids and the deer. Not sure how well they'll survive the rabbits and stuff, but wondering if anyone has ever done a "half assed" pumpkin patch?

https://blog.southernexposure.com/2021/10/6-easy-steps-to-saving-pumpkin-seeds/#:~:text=Store seeds in an airtight,do a germination test here.

 

the guy we lease land from does this every year by his horse manure pile.   gets a ton of them and does nothing.  This year the deer chowed them up, which they have left them alone for the most part before.   Gonna have to thin the herd! 

[2BuckBizCT]

@crappyicedoes them and electric fence enclosed IIRC?

[mowin]

Everyone in my area has to plant dozens of acres, or fence it in. 

[Belo]

well the experiment has started. We carved pumpkins last night. Saved at least 3 dozen or so seeds and the wife is going to cook up the rest. Will keep this thread updated.

[2BuckBizCT]

13 hours ago, 2BuckBizCT said:

@crappyicedoes them and electric fence enclosed IIRC?

@crappyice BUMP

[dbHunterNY]

never bothered. we do get deer in the fenced in legitimate pumpkin patch though. the fence isn't crazy tall so they just jump over it sometimes.

[grampy]

We planted about four acres of pumpkins to sell a few years ago. Dear and bear ate very well that year. But we did sell quite a few too.

Late deer season, those left over pumpkins were a huge draw.

[BowmanMike]

You should do fine as long as you don't have any other cucumbers or squash growing close by. They will cross pollinate and you will end up with something that is neither here nor there next year.

We plant our squash and pumpkins on a manure pile and it works amazing. keeps the weeds on the manure pile down and the squash seem happy too.