The correct method for harvesting and sun-drying pumpkin seeds
How are pumpkin seeds harvested and sun-dried? Here are the following methods for harvesting and sun-drying pumpkin seeds for reference: 1. Harvesting the pumpkins. Harvest in batches according to the ripeness of the pumpkins, and stack them in batches. 2. After-ripening. The after-ripening of pumpkins is very important for promoting plump seeds and increasing the yield and quality of white pumpkin seeds. Larger pumpkins with better ripeness...
How are pumpkin seeds harvested and sun-dried? Please explain
For harvesting and sun-drying pumpkin seeds, the following methods can be used for reference:
1. Harvesting the pumpkins. Harvest in batches according to the ripeness of the pumpkins, and stack them in batches.
2. After-ripening. The after-ripening of pumpkins is very important for promoting plump seeds and increasing the yield and quality of white pumpkin seeds. Larger pumpkins with better ripeness are after-ripened for 10-15 days, and tender pumpkins for 20-30 days.
3. Opening the pumpkins and floating the seeds. Open the pumpkins the same day, scoop out the seeds the same day, and wash them the same day, operating continuously without leaving them overnight, to avoid fermented boards and yellow boards. After opening the pumpkins and taking out the seeds, the stacking time must not exceed 24 hours. A long stacking time means more yellow boards, which affects the quality of the white pumpkin seeds.
4. Washing by water flotation. This method is simple and convenient, the seeds dry quickly, the cleanliness is good, and the seed slices are white. The method is to use a water tank, put the seeds scooped out from the opened pumpkins into the water tank, and use a skimmer to scoop out the seeds floating on the water surface. Pumpkin pulp, pumpkin shells, and some shriveled seeds. Pumpkin seeds
Sun-drying:
① Build a wooden frame 1-1.5 m high, 15-2 m wide, and 20-30 m long, spread dry sunflower stalks or corn stalks across it, and lay nylon mesh screen along it, suspended above the ground with ventilation from top to bottom, so the seeds dry quickly.
② Place 1.5 kg of seeds per sq m, turn them once every 2 hours, and after 2 days of sun-drying, when the seeds no longer stick to each other, move them onto striped tarpaulin or tarpaulin to continue sun-drying, then take them off the frame and sun-dry the second batch. Pumpkin seeds
③ For sun-dried seeds, the layer of soft skin covering the seed coat surface falls off naturally. When the moisture content drops to 8-9%, winnow them, remove shriveled seeds, remove impurities, and bag them for storage.
④ If stored with a moisture content higher than 10%, the seeds are prone to mold, and may even easily develop frozen boards.
⑤ Before bagging, stack them again for 2-3 days to prevent "falsely dry" seeds (dry outside but warm inside). Choose a sunny day to sun-dry them once more, to ensure safe storage without spoilage, with the seeds snowy white and shiny.
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