00:01Did you know that you can use this year's jack-o-lantern to grow next year's
00:05garden? Once you have carved your pumpkins for Halloween or made a
00:08delicious dessert or soup from its flesh, be sure to save the seeds to plant and
00:13enjoy a fresh crop of pumpkins or squash next year for free. Hi this is Amy from
00:19Gardening Know How and I'm gonna share tips to properly preserve those seeds
00:23plus I'll share six other ways to recycle your pumpkins into crafts, snacks
00:27and food for fauna. Once you have carved your pumpkin or collected the flesh for
00:32cooking it is time to save the seeds. Saving the seeds is a fun activity for the
00:37whole family including your children as even the smallest of hands can help.
00:41Pumpkin and squash seeds are often large and easy to handle. However not all
00:46pumpkin seeds should be saved to replant. Many varieties of pumpkin and squash are
00:51hybrids meaning they will not grow true to seed when saved. But if you're looking
00:55for a fun experiment then it's worth a try. Your best bet is to harvest and store
01:00seeds from heirloom or open pollinated pumpkins. Be sure to ask the staff at your
01:05local pumpkin patch, farmers market or roadside stand if they can guarantee the
01:10type of pumpkin. So now it's time for the dirty work. First remove the pulp and
01:15seeds from inside the pumpkin. Place that in a colander under running water. As the
01:20water runs over the pulp start picking out the seeds. There will be more seeds than
01:25you'll ever be able to plant. So once you have a good amount of seeds rinsed look
01:29over them and choose the biggest and healthiest looking seeds. You should plan
01:33on saving three times more pumpkin seeds the number of plants you'll be growing
01:37next year. Place the rinsed seeds on a dry paper towel. Make sure they are spaced
01:42out otherwise the seeds will stick to one another. Place in a cool dry spot for one
01:47to two weeks or until completely dry all the way through. Once the seeds are dry store in a
01:52paper envelope until it's time to plant. One of the best places to store pumpkin
01:57seed is actually in your refrigerator. After placing your seeds in an envelope
02:01just place them in the back of the refrigerator where they can sit
02:04undisturbed until next spring. Now it's time to turn that jack-o-lantern into a
02:09snack-o-lantern. A common autumn tradition is to nibble on roasted pumpkin
02:13seeds that have been harvested from those fresh fruits. Pumpkin seeds are rich and
02:18flavorful and filled with vitamins minerals and antioxidants. You'll want to place the
02:22seeds and any attached pulp into a large bowl of water as you clean out the pumpkin.
02:27Pour those seeds into a colander under cool running water and separate the seeds
02:31from the pulp the best you can. There is no need to remove every trace of pulp as
02:36it will add extra flavor and nutrition to the finished product. Then let the seeds
02:40drain thoroughly and spread them in a thin layer on a clean dish towel or a brown
02:45paper bag and let them air dry. Next preheat your oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit
02:51and spread the seeds evenly on a cooking sheet then drizzle them with melted butter
02:56or your favorite cooking oil. For extra flavor you can season the seeds with sea
03:00salt or add a pumpkin spice flare with cinnamon nutmeg and ginger. Roast the seeds
03:05until they're golden brown usually about 10 to 20 minutes. Stir the seeds every
03:10five minutes to keep them from burning. If seeds aren't your thing harvest the
03:14orange flesh to use in sweet or savory recipes such as pies soups and breads.
03:19Sugar and pie pumpkins usually have the best flavor with good quality flesh to
03:23make a puree. Only eat pumpkins that you've kept inside your house away from
03:28insects and other critters. Your Halloween pumpkin can also make the perfect snack
03:34for local wildlife. You may have already noticed some curious squirrels lurking
03:38around. Once you're done displaying your pumpkins for the season and they are in
03:41still good condition and have yet to begin to rot, split open or cut them up into
03:46pieces and place them around the yard to be enjoyed by local animals which may
03:50include deer, rabbits and of course those squirrels. If a pumpkin has been
03:55painted it is best to dispose of those as paint may be toxic. Another small animal
04:00that would enjoy your leftover pumpkins are birds. You can add the pumpkin seeds to
04:04your regular bird seed mix. Just be sure to rinse and dry the seeds before
04:08sharing with your feathered friends. Or you can use the pumpkin as a bird feeder. Just cut the
04:13pumpkin in half horizontally, empty the cavity and fill it with bird seed. Fun
04:18projects such as homemade bird feeders can be found in our latest e-book titled
04:22Bring Your Garden Indoors, 13 DIY Projects for the Fall and Winter. Claim your free
04:27copy today with the link in the description. Pumpkins are also suitable for use as
04:32planters and make terrific floral centerpieces for the fall holidays. Grab an
04:36appropriately sized vase and cut a big enough hole to drop the vase into the
04:40pumpkin. Sit the vase and then fill it with water. Gather your cut flowers and
04:45start arranging your bouquet. Be sure to add enough flowers that will disguise the
04:49edge of the hole. For more detailed information on creating a pumpkin floral
04:53centerpiece please check the link in the description. If the pumpkin looks like
04:58it's on its last legs the best thing to do is to compost it. Remove the seeds
05:02prior to composting or you may have dozens of volunteer pumpkin plants. Even if you
05:07don't have a compost pile you may be able to find a spot in the landscape for them
05:11to decompose. Your pumpkins can also be donated to local farms, zoos, and animal
05:17shelters. Many farms use the pumpkins as a treat for their animals. Pigs and
05:21chickens especially love the tasty flesh. So there you have it seven different ways
05:26to use pumpkins to their fullest potential. Whether collecting the seeds to
05:30plant or eat, feeding wildlife, or creating a pretty floral centerpiece, pumpkins
05:35have many uses before, during, and after the spooky season.
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05:43content from us. Thanks for watching and Happy Gardening!
