How to Preserve Pumpkin Seeds for Planting

Cut the top off of the pumpkin with a sharp knife. Use a large spoon to scoop out the pulp and seeds from the pumpkin. Place the pulp and seeds into a colander.

Put the colander in the sink under cool, running water. Pick the seeds from the pulp while the water is running. Rinse the seeds until there is no more pulp attached and place them in a separate bowl.

Look through the bowl of clean seeds and choose the biggest ones for preserving. As a rule of thumb, save three times the amount of pumpkin seeds more than the number of pumpkin plants you want to grow. The larger the seed, the better chance it has at germinating.

Spread a layer of paper towels on a cookie sheet. Lay the clean seeds in a single layer with plenty of space in between each one. Put the cookie sheet in a cool, dry place for one week to allow the seeds to dry.

Place the dry pumpkin seeds in an envelope once they have fully dried. Seal the envelope tightly and place the envelope in an air-tight plastic container. Puncture several holes in the lid of the container to avoid condensation buildup. Store the seeds in the back of the refrigerator until you are ready to plant them.