Planning on carving a pumpkin? A gardening expert shares three nifty ways to reuse the seeds 🕊️🎃
Graham Barrett, the gardening expert at beanbags.co.uk said, “If you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful way to keep your kids preoccupied for a couple of hours this October half-term, buy them a pumpkin. Not only can they let out their inner creativity by carving a character, but the pumpkin seeds inside are a great way to show them a beginner’s guide to gardening. Here are a couple of ways…”
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Preserve the seeds to grow your pumpkins
Did you know you can preserve the seeds to grow another pumpkin next Halloween? To do this, you should soak them in tap water to remove any pulp. Next, you should add them to a colander and drain them before placing them on a dish towel and allowing them to dry fully. This should only take a day or two, however, once they’re dry, add them to a jar or a container, and place them in the fridge.
After two weeks, you can then plant them in your garden or even in pots. Just make sure they’re not too close to direct sunlight if you plan on planting them indoors. The seeds should be planted 4 inches deep in soil that is loose and rich in nutrients (like compost). If there’s not much rain during the winter months, make sure you water them regularly, so they don’t dry out too quickly.
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Add them to your compost bin to speed up the process
Alternatively, pumpkin seeds also make a great addition to your compost pile as they’re a great source of nitrogen and moisture. Composting the seeds will break down organic matter into soil that can be used for planting other plants in your garden or landscaping projects later down the road. The shells will break down quickly in compost piles, but if you want to speed up their decomposition, add some soil or straw to the pile first.
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Feed them to birds who will reap the nutrients
Pumpkin seeds are highly nutritious for birds, particularly in autumn when birds need more energy and fat to resist the cold weather. Pumpkin seeds are rich in protein, iron and zinc and contain essential fatty acids which help to lower cholesterol levels. The extra good news is that no preparation is needed – the seeds can just be scooped out of the pumpkin rind and added to a bird feeder or a dish. The birds will help themselves.
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