Seed storage

[drlsword]

Hi, i got a load of seeds a few weeks ago, im wondering now ve opend some of the seed is there a special way to store it as there are loads of seeds too many to use this year and some even next, what do you guys do with your excess seeds, any secial containers or things to store them in. Any advice you can give me would be apreciated, thank you

[MKG]

I've never stored seed - but everyone tells me that they should be kept dry and cool i.e. in a tightly sealed packet inside a sealed box in the bottom of the fridge.

[drlsword]

Thanks, at the moment ive sealed the packs with tape the outer and inner pack as well, also there all vegtable seeds. Do you think that will keep them for next year

[Jobi1canobi]

Personally, I keep mine (still in their packets) slotted into plastic sleeves and stored in an A4 ring binder to keep them in alphabetical order. This is kept in a cool spot in my living room out of direct sunlight.

It's not really practical though and I'm wondering about one of those craft cases that people keep things like buttons in. They're quite pricey though - waiting to see if anything similar comes up on offer on Freecycle.

Interested to hear other thoughts...

[Ellendra]

A jar works well, you can seal it up and tuck it in a cool corner of the pantry.

Some varieties of seeds do better if kept in the fridge a few months, some die from it. Check the variety before storing all your seeds there.

There have been seeds found at archeological digs sealed in clay pots, that still sprouted and grew. I'd love to start collecting those varieties but I'm focusing on trees and shrubs for now.

[marshlander]

My seeds are all in a big plastic food box at the bottom of the fridge. I've sown many things, particularly tomatoes, from the same pack three years running and still had good germination. Stored well it should keep for 5 years + .

I've also sucessfully grown nigella & aquilegia from seed that I saved four years ago and calendula from a packet found in an old kitchen table drawer and dated 1973 which was 22 years old at the time!

Parsnips are notorious for poor gemination, even from fresh seed. Red's toilet roll method worked for me 100% this year!

If you are saving your own seed the most important thing is to make sure it is dry before you save it or it will just go mouldy. I have a kit from the rhs but it's basically silica gel and various pots and trays. You could also bake some uncooked rice to drive out any moisture and use this as a dessicant.

Tomato seeds need special treatment - they have to be fermented (left to go yukky in a jam jar of water) for several days to remove the pulp and any debris. The seed sinks and the debris rises so it can be easily poured away. The seeds can then be rinsed and dried. I have only done this once to save heritage seeds and the second generaton were even better than the first. Don't forget F1 varieties don't come true and those polinated by wind or insects prob' won't come true either.

Don't forget to lable what you've saved - you think you'll remember but it's like the freezer - too many times I've defrosted tomatoes thinking they were plums!

[MadTom]

Thanks for the advice! I dont know if my seeds have been eaten by seals ( a bit wet here at times) or bad storage but my germinations rates here have been very low -even fro new seed! I'm getting a fridge from freecycle and will store my seeds in that.

I have spoken to a few people locally who say germination has been appaling this year - I know carrot seeds dont like to be under water for long but I was wondering if its a common problem this year?