Seed Storage

[Maverickpro201]

How are you all storing your seeds for next year, Through the winter? 

Wife says to store them in the shed, in Jars.

I say store them in the basement in the jars. 

Does it make a difference? 

[Johnsfolly]

7 minutes ago, Maverickpro201 said:

How are you all storing your seeds for next year, Through the winter? 

Wife says to store them in the shed, in Jars.

I say store them in the basement in the jars. 

Does it make a difference? 

You want to prevent swings in temp and humidity.. of the two I would assume that your basement would be better than your shed.. Cold storage would be best if you have fridge available. At work we would store seed jars in Rubbermaid style bins with some desiccant then in the fridge. The seeds were viable for years. 

[ness]

I use airtight containers in the back of the fridge. Any time I get something with a moisture absorbing packet I stick it in one of the containers. 

[Maverickpro201]

What about the freezer.? Or is that to cold? Have more space in the upright freezer than my house refrigerator.  

[Johnsfolly]

33 minutes ago, Maverickpro201 said:

What about the freezer.? Or is that to cold?

Found this online;

Storing Seeds in the Freezer vs. Refrigerator

Seed banks store their seeds in the freezer because it offers the longest-term storage. They may keep rare seeds stored for many years and need to ensure that the seeds stay safe and viable. However, seed banks also have specialized equipment for freezing seeds that the average homeowner doesn’t. For this reason, some people think freezing seeds isn’t an option for everyday gardeners, but this is not correct.

Freezing seeds at home doesn’t harm most seeds, and in fact, some seeds need to be frozen or at least refrigerated before they will germinate. According to Colorado State University Extension, properly stored seeds can last for 10 years or more. The main advantage for the home gardener who wants to store seeds in the freezer is that the freezer is opened far less often than the refrigerator. Storing seeds in the fridge may subject them to temperature fluctuations and humidity. Dry seeds stay viable longer, and humidity and temperature fluctuations can kill seeds.

Preparing Seeds for Storage

After collecting your seeds, it’s important to dry them. Moisture can cause mold to grow and will also create ice crystals inside the seed once frozen. Colorado State University recommends spreading seeds outside to dry them thoroughly and cautions against drying them in an oven or microwave, as this may overdry the seeds. Test your seeds for dryness by breaking one. If it snaps or breaks easily, it is dry. If it bends or mushes, it’s not dry enough.

Dry seeds can be put in individual envelopes labeled with the name of the plant and the year the seed was collected. You might want to add additional notes, such as growing requirements for the plant or anything that you’d like to note from the previous season. The envelopes should then be put in airtight seed storage containers. Storing seeds in plastic bags is not usually recommended because seeds are not as well protected as they are in airtight seed storage containers.

More Seed Storage Tips

The University of Minnesota Extension suggests using silica packs or powdered milk in the bottom of the storage container to absorb moisture. You can find silica packets at most craft stores. Purdue University recommends dry rice for the same purpose. Be sure to use a paper towel between the seeds and the moisture absorber. Then, place the container in the back of the freezer, where it is less likely to be disturbed.

When you are ready to plant your stored seeds, remove the seeds you need from the storage container and allow them to thaw at room temperature for 24 hours. Make sure to look over all of the seeds and dispose of any that may have become moldy. Once your seeds are thawed, plant as you usually would and note your germination rate as well as any other information that you may need for the following year.

[Maverickpro201]

Thanks, this works well for me, And I have a lot of silicone packs for my fishing lures and such. The Freezer it will be then. In sealing Glass containers/jars