pumpkin seeds (growing, fertilizer, nursery, how to)

[steel7]

I stored pumpkin seeds in my freezer for awhile & recently planted them. Will they produce any pumpkins & how long does it take till they start growing ?

[J&Em]

Usually it is recommended that you refrigerate pumpkin seeds you aren't planning on using and most will stay viable. Freezing might damage some so it would be hard to tell if you will have success, but pumpkin seeds are tough. Generally they should sprout in a week to 10 days. Give it a full 2 weeks before giving up. After that it is wait and see for 3 to 4 months before your pumpkin is ripe.

In the meantime you may want to look up how often to water, fertilizer and how to deal with pests. Here's one place with some easy to follow tips: All About Pumpkins - Learn How to Grow Pumpkins - Basic Information

[steel7]

I grew pumpkins last year but the seeds went directly from the pack to the ground. There was no ice on the seeds from the freezer & they were kept in a ziplock freezer bag. I planted them about a week or so ago so ill wait another week until i buy a pack of seeds from the store.

[uggabugga]

you should store them in the fridge, not the freezer. it will be interesting to see how many of them germinate, though.

[steel7]

Originally Posted by uggabugga

you should store them in the fridge, not the freezer. it will be interesting to see how many of them germinate, though.

I should of done my homework first. I have noticed 1 starting to pop through the ground. A pack of seeds at the local nursery costs $2.00. I want to plant by july 1st if the seeds dont germinate. Last yr i planted in may & had pumpkins by sept.

[kinkytoes]

I put my pumpkin and other veggie seeds in a plastic baggie with a paper towel (after drying the seeds out on a paper towel) and keep them in the drawer where I store potatoes and onions.

These are viable for at least two years in my experience. In Z7, I planted my squashes/zukes/melons a couple of weeks ago and the sprouts appeared in about a week.

[steel7]

I messed up by freezing the seeds. Why i didnt ask first is beyond me. Now its gonna cost me a few bucks + gas to get the seeds in town (newell nurseries). The seeds i froze were from a pumpkin a neighbor had. I didnt keep the seeds from the pumpkins i grew last yr cause they were more like orange squash.

[steel7]

A few weeks or so ago a neighbor gave me some pumpkin seeds from a pumpkin i gave her. I soaked the seeds in water overnight & planted them. 14 have sprouted. I hope to have some nice pumpkins this year like i did last year.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by steel7

I stored pumpkin seeds in my freezer for awhile & recently planted them. Will they produce any pumpkins & how long does it take till they start growing ?

They should, I stored acorn squash seeds in our freezer last winter, planted them a few months ago and if the littlle guys mature, i will have enough acorn squash to feed the neighbors, everyone at church and maybe even the church down the street from ours. The reason I froze mine was the advise I got here from someone who did a lot of garndening. He isn't posting this year, I don't remeber why. Anyway he said freeze them, I did and as I say, it is working so far.
Nita

[Cambium]

Any update on these seeds from the OP?

I let the seeds dry on a paper plate for days/weeks, then put them into a tiny zip lock back and stored in a cool dry room over winter. They did sprout and grow perfectly next season.