I rarely plant a full packet of seeds these days, my garden just isn't big enough and there are just the two of us eating from the garden. I plant a lot of tomato plants but I like a couple of plants of several varieties rather than a dozen of one kind.
The best way to store unused seeds is to keep them in their original packets. You'll know exactly what variety they are and what year they were packed (the date will be on the packet, something like "packed for 2017"). The packet also has all that great planting information printed on it too.
Be sure your seeds are dry before storing them; moisture will lead to mold.
Put all your packets inside zippered plastic bags and then store in the refrigerator. Since the temperature and humidity level both rise every time you open the refrigerator door, it's best to put your seeds in the back corner of the lowest shelf, where the temperature will be the most stable. Place a packet of dessicant, some uncooked rice or a tablespoon of powdered milk in each bag of seed packets to absorb moisture.
Some types of seeds will remain viable for up to five years, but the best way to keep seeds is to plant them yearly and save the seeds from those plants at the end of the season.
Related Posts:
How to Order Spring Seeds
How to Grow Vegetables in a Shady Garden
A Comparison of 5 Tomato Varieties
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We've got some seeds stashed away in the fridge, I'm curious to see how they do this year when we try to plant them! Thanks for sharing on the Waste Less Wednesday Blog Hop!
ReplyDeleteWhat kinds? Let us know how they do!
DeleteGood information... I store my home picked seeds in labeled zipper plastic bags in a tin... in the basement. The seed packages from stores are stored in a plastic basket in the basement and now I am wondering if I should maybe put those in a closed tin also. I have had some seeds grow that were ridiculously old... last year some came up that had a packing date of 2002, I think it was. I know better than to expect that though and so I sowed extra heavily. Others I did that with didn't come up and needed to be seeded a second time. :) Thank you for the post.
ReplyDeleteThe basement is a nice cool place, wish we had one!
DeleteGreat idea for saving seeds. My most saved seed is for flowers, a balloon flower. They are little hard pellets so it makes it easy for me.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like an easy seed, Kim. Seeds that are easy to gather, not fussy, and don't need special handling are the best. In my garden, basil and calendula are the easiest seeds to save.
DeleteI have some seeds saved from 3 years ago :/ We will see if they are still good this season... Thanks for sharing these tips (that I need to use) on the Homestead Blog Hop!
ReplyDeleteGermination goes down each year but sometimes I've had great success with three-year-old seeds, so hopefully you will too. :-)
DeleteHi Kathi,
ReplyDeleteI did not realize that you were supposed to store them in the refrigerator - maybe that is why my seeds never seem to grow. Thanks for the advice. Happy Spring and Happy planting! Pinning & tweeting.
Yes, Marla, a cool, dry and dark place is the best storage for seeds. I hope you'll be more successful now.
Deletemom kept hers in the freezer .. I do too ... and like you, I take seeds from the previous year .... Last year I didn't get any green beans, and the packets I bought, all different brands of blue lake ... are suppose to be bush but are pole beans .
ReplyDeleteSurprise beans! I have a surprise squash this year... no idea what it is.
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