Lady Godiva Pumpkins – ‘Naked’ Seeds

Last season I was introduced to the Lady Godiva pumpkin. What’s all the fuss about?  They are ‘naked’ seeds!

One of the many marvelous benefits of belonging to a Crop Swap group is that you get be introduced to, swap and seed-save a wide variety of unusual home grown produce.

While the Lady Godiva pumpkin is a beautiful looking beast from the outside, with a combination of greens and golds, the inside flesh is not the reason to get excited – in fact it’s rather insipid! The best place for the flesh is probably the compost bin, if the chickens aren’t interested.

But, as I’ve already alluded to, it’s the seeds that are remarkable!

Regular pumpkin seeds have a thick protective hull surrounding the green seed hidden within. If you are buying store-bought pumpkin seeds ready for eating, they’ve already been hulled hence they are green. Lady Godiva pumpkin seeds are hull-less, naturally! Yes, you can say they are ‘naked’ just like Lady Godiva, hence the name!

How to use Lady Godiva Pumpkin Seeds

You can eat them raw, allow them to dry and store (or seed-save for planting next season) or lightly roast the Lady Godiva seeds.

If you are a seed-eater, whether in home-made granola, sprinkled on salads, in breads, as snacks, or used as an edible garnish, these plants are absolutely recommended to grow for next season.

Depending on the maturity of the pumpkin when harvested, the outer skin may be hard to crack, but persevere! You’ll find an abundance of naked seeds within. Simply wash to remove any stringy flesh that may be attached, and dry in a single layer on baking paper. You may wish to lightly roast them too, if preferred. Ensure they are fully dried before storing in an airtight container.

Where to find them

It seems Lady Godiva seeds are hard to come by! Best to beg or borrow seeds as they don’t appear to be sold commercially in New Zealand. Unfortunately I don’t have any spare this season but there may be kind Rediscover gardeners who may answer your call for assistance! If you’d like to chance your luck, leave a message in the comments box below. An alternative I have found (hull-less seeds) is Kakai Pumpkin sold by Kings Seeds that may be worth a try.