Son and I figuring on 1000 plants

yes it is. He helps with everything

There is a quick and handy viability test you can do with seeds to test for viability. I think you place the seeds in a bowl of water and the ones that sink to bottom are viable and the floaters need thrown out. This way you have a higher germination rate and dont waste time planting bad seed you saved. Please double check me though - I am just bringing up a recollection from my memory over reading this about seed saving. Maybe others will chime in. But, to me it definitely made sense as the viable seed would not have dried out....I bet your son would enjoy doing it as well.

I know that is the way to test acorns before planting .

Just sorted sunflower seeds a few days ago. Had to pick out the bad from the good. All giant flowers at this stage. Got some multi head 5 - 6 foot plants to go through.

That's a lot of pumpkins.
I bought a pack of the giants.
Had some when kids were little
and needed a tow truck to pick them up.

I hope we all get a good season.

Were those Heirloom variety pumpkins you got the seeds from?If not,,you might not get the pumpkins your planning on getting.

yup

My favorite hybrid is an eating pumpkin x spaghetti squash. Best of both worlds!!