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Rainbowlake Alberta

What is the best way to dry your seeds nd prepare them for next year, complete procees from cleaning to storage would be nice. Thanks all.

8/26/2006 10:26:06 PM

[email protected]

I use the following technique:

Stuff needed:
Ale
5 gallon bucket
Bleach
Hose
1/4" hardware cloth attached to a wooded frame about 16" square (several)
bricks
Dehumidifier
Fan
Dry towels so Squirrel gun doesn't get wet
Squirrel Gun
Ammo

-Open first Ale.
-In a 5 gallon bucket add about 2 gallons of water with 5% bleach (6-8 oz). Toss in the seeds & swish them around like mad. After several minutes of swishing & pulling out chunks & pulp & stuff.
-Dump bleach..curse seeds that escape
-Shoot the first squirrel that's been watching
-Add water from hose & swish some more
-Dump rinse water.
-Curse fallen seeds & shoot another squirrel.
-Rinse a 3rd time.
-Dump seeds onto screen & pick out remaining pulp & slop.
-Set screen in sunny spot & reload Squirrel gun.
-Shoot at the posse of Squirrels that has gathered.
-Open second Ale.
-Repeat until all seeds are on a screen.
-Bring screens indoors (basement for me but the garage would also work) & stack them using bricks as spacers.
-Back outside to curse & shoot at Squirrel party that is dining on the unattended screens.
-Bring in remaining seeds & continue stacking.
-Arrange seeds so they aren't sitting on top of each other adding screens as needed.
-Turn on humidifier & fan in close proximity to uneaten seeds.
-Warn missus to not knock seed drying screens over when carry laundry basket.
-Get yelled at by missus to place them somewhere else or learn to do laundry.
-Open another Ale.
-Bury Squirrels in the patch.
-After a week I shut the fan off & pick up the seeds the missus knocked over.
-After another week I shut off the dehumidifer unless it is rainy & humid.
-After the third week the seeds are ready for grading & storage in our pumpkin seed freezer.

8/26/2006 11:22:05 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

lol, love it!

8/27/2006 7:24:14 AM

ordinary,VA

Steve that's the hard way.
1.open ale
2. open another ale
3.test fire ole bessy (hoping that will keep the squirrels away)
4.open another,another ale
5.keep bessy handy just in case.
6.Ask the ole lady to clean the seed's for you while your on guard duty
7. oh yeah open another ale :)

8/27/2006 7:31:18 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Yo Steve,
Im bubbling you a plane ticket, Ill supply the ale and the squirrels, my patch needs the organics and I promised the wife a squirrel coat for christmas.... PS member to check the firearm at the gate....lol

8/27/2006 9:48:30 AM

[email protected]

1. Open ale.
2. Open ale.
3. Open ale.
4. Open ale.
5. Open ale.
6. Open ale.
7. Six pack gone, go get another one, then - open ale.
8. Open ale.
9. Open ale.
10.Open ale.
11.Open ale.
12.Open ale.
13. Seeds are now gone from squirrels, so be sure to have other growers addresses to get seeds via bubble packs and the USPS!
14. Go to store, out of ale.
15. Repeat Steps 1 - 14 (leaving step 13 for once a year).

I like to practice drying my seeds like this atleast once a week.

8/27/2006 1:09:34 PM

Rainbowlake Alberta

HAHAHA
Thank you gone to buy some ale,How long can i keep the pumpkin when it is off the vine, Before taking the seeds?
Is there a prime time frame?

8/28/2006 1:45:28 AM

[email protected]

It depends on the temperature. The least one I had on display indoors had 50% of the seeds germinated in 2 weeks. Kept cold though, the seeds might have been OK for twice that time.

8/28/2006 8:59:52 AM

Nashville, TN

He, he, he - Tremor You're still a trip!!! Did you ever quit tripping is the question? LOL...

Here's the method I used last year - had 100% germination on those seeds..... It's a littler faster than Tremor's - and much less chance for you to hunt your dinner.. **grin**..

1. Open 'kin with whatever power tool you choose to use.
2. With spade - scoop out contents into 5 gallon bucket of very soapy water.
3. Swirl around - then strain.
4. pick seeds outt've mix.
5. quick rinse with light bleach water
6. spread thin on a dehydrator pan
7. put in dehydrator - leave door/top OPEN - and turn dehydrator on. (if door/top's not left open - you're seeds will heat up too much... DOD)
8. leave on for 2 hours, then off for 4 hours, then on for 2 hours... continue this for two days.
9. Seeds are ready to store..

8/28/2006 2:56:11 PM

ordinary,VA

Hey Teach when do you open yur ale?
and how many bottles?
:)

8/28/2006 3:51:05 PM