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A gardening expert has shared three nifty ways in which you can reuse pumpkin seeds in your garden this Halloween, making sure that no part of pumpkin carving goes to waste.
Here’s how to embrace the ‘grow your own’ trend, speed up the process of your compost bin, and feed the birds – all with your leftover pumpkin seeds…
1. Preserve the seeds to grow your own pumpkins
Did you know you can preserve pumpkin seeds to grow another pumpkin next Halloween? The process is a pretty easy one, too. Simply soak them in tap water to remove any pulp. Next, add the seeds to a colander and drain them before placing on a dish towel and allowing them to dry fully. This should only take a day or two. Once they’re dry, add the seeds to a jar or container and place in the fridge.
Then, after two weeks, you can then plant the seeds out in your garden, or even in pots in your home.
‘Just make sure they’re not too close to direct sunlight if you plan on planting them indoors,’ Graham Barrett, gardening expert at beanbags.co.uk advises. ‘The seeds should be planted four 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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2. Add pumpkin seeds to your compost bin to speed up the process
Pumpkin seeds also make a great addition to your compost pile as they’re a good 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,’ Graham explains. ‘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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3. Feed pumpkin seeds to birds who will reap the nutrients
Pumpkin seeds are highly nutritious for birds, which is particularly useful in autumn when birds need more energy and fat to resist the cold weather. Rich in protein, iron and zinc, pumpkin seeds contain essential fatty acids which help to lower cholesterol levels. Simply scoop the seeds out of the pumpkin rind and add to a bird feeder or dish for the birds to help themselves.
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