What Species of Pumpkin Has Dark Green Pumpkin Seeds & Is Grown Without a Shell?

Pumpkin Seeds Without Shells

• Most pumpkin seeds' coats are thick and hard. However, the naked seed's coat is so thin the seed appears to be without covering. Naked-seed pumpkins were derived when mutant pumpkins with unnaturally thin seed coats were intentionally propogated for this quality. The seeds of these pumpkins are easier to roast and eat than traditional pumpkin seeds.

Kakai Pumpkin Seeds

• One type of pumpkin that contains naked green seeds is the Kakai. This gourd is a small to medium green, black-striped pumpkin. It is an Austrian-type pumpkin that averages about two or three fruits per plant, with each fruit containing about 20 seeds. The seeds of this pumpkin are excellent when roasted.

Lady Godiva Pumpkin Seeds

• Another variety of pumpkin with green shell-less seeds is the large green and gold Lady Godiva. The Godiva's fruit is not as thick as most pumpkins, and thus is not used much for cooking and eating. However the green, naked seeds are large, about three times the size of a sunflower seed, and tasty raw or roasted. Each pumpkin yields about 10 seeds.

Other Varieties

• Other varieties of naked-seed pumpkins include Triple Treat, Tricky Jack, Streaker and Hull-less. The seeds of these pumpkins also appear to have no covering and are considered desirable to eat. However, unlike the Kakai or Lady Godiva, they are not green in color.

Preparing the Seeds

• The seeds of the naked-seed pumpkins can be eaten raw or roasted. To dry roast, place the seeds on a cookie pan in an oven heated to 350 degrees. They will pop and swell but not explode. This process takes about 15 minutes. When they are done cooking, enjoy the tasty and healthy (38 percent protein) result.