Granny, Robin, and Ed posted on how they store their seeds. So I figured I'd weigh in. Currently I have five containers of seeds. The containers I use are airtight. The two above are stored in the back of the fridge. This tends to keep the seed viable for long periods of time (just make sure to bring the seeds to room temperature before opening). I also have a container in the freezer for seed I might want to use some year, but I'm not this year. Sometimes I find it hard to throw away seed that I've loved but have something else I'm growing now.
These containers are indexed. One has all my big seeds like corn, peas, and beans. The other has everything else. I had these containers for a long time not being used. Then I found out they were the exact size of a seed packet on its side. They are the perfect seed storage containers (2qt ClickClack containers).
The other two are sometimes used. One has seed that will be sown in the garden soon (peas, spinach, lettuce, Asian greens, and fava beans). It is kept by the back door. The other has seed that will be sown indoors soon and is kept upstairs in the plant nursery.
Looks good Daphne! If I didn't keep mine organized, I would probably loose quite a few. I keep my big container in the basement where it is nice and cool.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, I need to get mine better organized!
ReplyDeleteIs there any reason not to store everything in the freezer? (There's more real estate available in the big freezer than in the fridge.)
Commercial seeds should be fine in the freezer. If you collect your own you have to make sure they are dry enough. Water expands as it freezes and too much can crack the seed.
DeleteThere, that's better...more like mine! I do need to find a plastic container that is a bit longer and narrower, the width of the seed packets. I keep mine in a canister in the refrigerator until planting time nears, then move them to the indexed box. A long, narrow, plastic box could stay in the refrigerator and still be indexed.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I like the way you organize them. We finally organized ours this year. We're using plastic zip baggies. We keep them in the room where our wine is aging. It stays around 50 degrees there all the time. Do you think that's cool enough to make them last?
ReplyDeleteYes I think that is fine. I don't think it is much different from a fridge that is at 40. As long as they don't see warm temps they should be fine. Of course the freezer keeps them best, but I rarely have room in my freezer even though I have a chest freezer.
Deletegreat way to keep organized. Much better than my method of throwing them all into a bag...lol
ReplyDeleteGreat looking system. How do you keep your conatiners air tight, and do you do anything about controlling moisture in the fridge? I freeze homesaved bean and pea seed when they are dry, but only for 48 hours to kill weevils. Right now only daylily seed gets refrigerated.
ReplyDeleteThe containers themselves are airtight. They have a gasket that goes around the top. So as long as there is no moisture in there to start, I'm fine. Some people would put silica gel in with the seeds, but I've never done that. The most important thing is to let the seeds come to room temperature before opening the container. If I don't the moisture from the air would condense on it and then I'd have a moisture problem. So I have to think ahead before opening it.
DeleteLooks like you have an excellent seed filing system there...very well organized. I really need to pick up some more containers like that for my own seeds.
ReplyDeleteThose containers really are just the perfect size. All of your organized storage systems puts me to shame. I keep them in a box but with a "paw through it" organizing scheme. I have been giving all my extra seeds to the Giving Garden - so my actual seed supply is actually quite manageable in size. If I let it get bigger again, I would have to consider getting jsut a bit more organized with the storage than I am.
ReplyDeleteYou are soooo much more organized than I am. haha. I like your setup.
ReplyDeleteThose boxes look ideal. At the moment I'm keeping most of my seeds in the fridge in an old floppy disk box which is really not up to the task. I'll have to look out for something more like your arrangement, I think. Yesterday I made a list of all the vegetable and herb seed varieties I've currently got and I'm up to 70. Then I ordered a few more, because 70 is obviously not enough!
ReplyDeleteThat is very organise. At the moment, we are keeping our in shoe boxes. I must put storage box in my list.
ReplyDeleteI keep mine in a old biscuit tin, in no particular order and if the truth be known they are just stuffed in really. I'm feeling quite disorganised in comparison to your system. I really should give them a bit more TLC.
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