Re: Drying seeds

In a message dated 97-11-11 07:44:22 EST, COMPUTRESE@aol.com writes:

<< Subj:	 Drying seeds
 Date:	97-11-11 07:44:22 EST
 From:	COMPUTRESE@aol.com
 To:	pumpkins@athenet.net
 
 Hello!
 
 What is the preferred method for drying pumpkin seeds? 
 
 Some of my pumpkins were "dry" inside, that is, there were seeds, but
 virtually none of the slimy pumpkin viscera we lovingly refer to as "snot".
 The seeds from these pumpkins easily separated from the strings, and were
 "clean".
 
 Some of my other pumpkins had such stringy, slimy stuff, it was gross to
 clean. I piled up all of the viscera and separated the seeds from it with
 moderate difficulty. These seeds were slimy and sticky, requiring a rinse in
 water. I did not notice if my seeds sank or floated.
 
 For future reference, is it best to rinse the seeds? Also, does anyone have
a
 mesh or screen they use for best results? How does one tell if the seeds are
 dry? My seeds were very plump and large. 
 
 I was concerned that wetting them would result in germination. I wanted them
 as dry as possible, so I laid them out flat on a perforated baking pan,
after
 patting them dry from their rinse. I tossed them frequently to avoid pooling
 of moisture. They dried within a week.
 
 Thanks for your input.
 
 Barb
 Orlando, FL
 
  >>
I rinse mine in a colander with cool water.  I then spread them on newspaper
lined potting trays and dry for 3 weeks.  My house has hot air heat which
assists in the drying.  After the first year of storage I freeze them and
plant then while still frozen.

George
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