ziploc bags in the freezer.

Global Seed Vault Setup :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Svalbard Global Seed Vault

Great question! I want a photo album/binder, so that I can keep them organized and easily bring them out to the garden with me. I tried it with a cheapo photo album and found that the thin plastic film didn't stand up, and that bean and pea packets took up a lot of room in the binder.

Then I discovered that Lee Valley has EXACTLY what I want, with heavy duty plastic sleves and everything, but it's enormously expensive! I think it would be about $80 to get enough sleeves for my current hoard, and I only have plans to expand in future.

So I'm stuck - I need to do some research and find out if I can get similar heavy plastic sleeves for a binder anywhere and assemble the same thing for (hopefully) much cheaper. Any collectors out there know what I'm looking for?

I'm very interested to see other responses!

Here is a link that might be useful: exactly what I want, but way too expensive

A very interesting idea emmers. I didn't even think in this direction, but there are definite possibilities here. You're completely right though, $80 is way too expensive for basically a binder with bags.

I use a fishing tackle case called a "worm binder". See pic below. Extra pockets are available for it and it is expandable and inexpensive.

Also be sure to check out all the storage suggestions over on the Seed Saving forum here.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Worm Binder

You guys have just given me a great idea! I've been struggling with seed storage for a while now, and right now, they're basically sitting out on a console table. I have a ton of Ziploc bags, and I also have one of those handheld, battery operated bag sealers from Brylane Home (used to reseal chip bags and such). I'm thinking maybe I can use the sealer to make divisions in a regular Ziploc, and then leave a channel on one side that's sealed off, so that I can punch holes in the bag and insert them into a binder.

I was actually thinking about stuffing them into baseball card holders, but since they're not sealed, it's not nearly as secure or moisture-free.

I think I'll give it a shot tomorrow, and if it works, I'll start my own little seed binder!

My dream seed storage for now is placing each variety of seeds in a dedicated 'Food*Saver' vacuum bag and vacuum packing them. Then placing these bags in a large "Lock*n*Lock" container. The L*n*L containers then go in the 'spider' closet in my unheated very cool basement. My dream would be for DH to get rid of the spiders so I could go into this closet whenever I want.

DL

2 quart plastic Best Foods Mayo jar. Lid screwed on and then out into the garage it goes.

Seeds kept separate in paper envelopes with the info written on the outside.

The garage doesn't get over 50 degrees and it is dry.

I'd be satisfied to just have an expanding folder with alphabetic slots. Right now I keep all my seeds in a large plastic food container w/snap-on lid. Categories are stored in sandwich-sized Baggies. Bean and pea seeds are kept in their original packaging. I keep the smaller seeds in small packets labeled with kind of seed and variety in the Baggies.

It isn't a terribly efficient storage system, mostly because every time I want a packet of seeds, I don't have a quick visual reference but have to pick up each Baggie to see what it is and then search through the right one to get the variety I want.

i've been considering this problem for awhile and had decided about a week ago that I need to get serious about it so that I stop buying duplicates.
I'm thinking about a plastic file folder with manilla folders. Each labeled with type of vegetable, fruit or flower. Than, in each file I can drop my seed packets into a plastic sandwich bag and put into the appropriate folder.
My problems with this are-some of the files will be too bulky, no way to put it in the fridge or freezer and still somewhat of a mess.
I like the idea of an album with folders or an accordian file. Maybe I'll look into that too.
Anything has to be better than multiple plastic shopping bags and envelopes scattered around the house!

This is what I am using this year. I bought the inserts only, since I have some nice lidded boxes to put them in. Not airtight by any stretch, but an improvement over my much less organized previous non-system. The inserts are easy to label (come with a stick-on lable, actually), and each insert is roomy enough to hold several packs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Storage

I do a version of the ziplock/freezer method, with plans to upgrade to some big locking containers.

But I keep an Excel spreadsheet of what I have and where I got them from and the year, plus notes on how well the variety did each year under what kinds of conditions.

For seeds that I have saved, I also note the parent source and any conditions pro or con that might bear on their reliability or purity. For example, I have some purple tomatillos that I am re-selecting since the original seed produced more green than purple. Or if my neighbor had a garden that might have been close enough to cross pollinate with.

Hi, Dave,

Thanks for the tip on the fishing binder! I would never (ever) have stumbled on that product on my own. I'm liking the spinnerbait binder they have on the same site for the pocket separation, but I'm finding it hard to tell how many pages (and thus how many seed packets) I'd be able to fit in one binder.

In your experience, what's the capacity of your binder? Do you use more than one?

Spaghetina,

please let us know how the project turns out (with pictures, if you can!) I don't have a bag sealer thingy, but maybe you can start a cottage industry making seed binder bags!

I use one of these.. they are pretty inexpensive and have are alphabetized. They fit nicely in the file cabinet with all my other files and stay pretty dry and cool.. you can put seed packets, ziplock bags, manila envelopes,, you name it.. pretty handy

Here is a link that might be useful: expandable file seed storage

Thanks for the tip on the fishing binder! I would never (ever) have stumbled on that product on my own. I'm liking the spinnerbait binder they have on the same site for the pocket separation, but I'm finding it hard to tell how many pages (and thus how many seed packets) I'd be able to fit in one binder.

I have 10 pages in mine - 1 for each of my seed categories like tomatoes, peppers, lettuce & greens, beans, etc. - and probably room for 1 or 2 more pages. It all depends on how many seed packets you stuff into each ziplock page. The beans one is stuffed pretty full just because the seeds are so big.

Dave

Lots of great ideas here guys, thank you all.

It seems that if I wanted something air tight, it would most likely involve some sort of ziplock bag.

Why do you think there isn't something on the market designed specifically for the seed saver? Would it be cost prohibitive to make something airtight and able to be put in the fridge (something that isn't a plastic storage tote)?

Ok, so anyone who thinks gardeners can be obsessive has not yet met scrapbookers - I have just spent part of my day immersing myself in scrapbooking products, and this must be a goldmine industry. The amount of money you can spend to on products that organize all the other products you need to buy...

But anyway, they have vast multitudes of organizational products, many that seem like they would apply well to seed saving/packets. From hard boxes to compartmented totes to file systems, they have it all, and usually in perky colors (if that's your thing.)

So my research efforts today (not at all avoiding hilling my potatoes in this 90 degree sticky heat) conclude that it's still very difficult to find precisely what I want:

binder inserts that are a) heavy-duty, b) zippered and c) multi-pocket

except in the lee valley and the spinnerbait binder.

But some of the scrapbooking products come close. I think I like these pages, for economy's sake, although they say they have a 'security flap' on the pouches rather than a zipper, and since the product image isn't a photo I'm not sure precisely what they mean there. But I can't beat the price, and I may just use a zippered binder to keep things contained. If my calculations are right, I should be able to store 80-100 seed packets per ~$7 set with these.

4 6x6 pockets

5 4x6? pockets

I was also briefly enamoured of these, which are individual zippered pouches, but are expensive and seem like they would get too bulky too fast.

16 3.5x4.5 pockets

8 4.5x7 pockets

I do recommend anyone looking for seed storage taking a browse (allocate SEVERAL hours) through the scrapbooking sites/stores, as I think everything discussed in this thread can be found there in some form or another.

Capitalistbaby, thanks again for starting this thread, as you've given me the impetus I needed to actually get this research done. I think I'm going to try it!

~emmers

Here is a link that might be useful: scrapbook store > storage/organization

I don't see the advantage of scrapbooks or even tackle boxes. Obviously the seeds need freezing, else my 2000 savoy cabbage would not sprout, and I have maybe 20 packets from before 2003. I even have parsnip from 2006. If you like the veggie, you are always better off with a package that will last you 5+ years, in terms of simplifying culture, storage and shipments.

Frequent handling (for me) requires that they be in the fridge freezer, not in the large freezer in the basement. Scrapbooks and tackle boxes would take too much space and are rigid. The ziplocs act as another moisture barrier, which is a good thing.

Further, I have 3 types of seeds which are in the several ounces to 1 pound weight, and they start with B, F, and P.
By placing them all in a large ziploc labeled "pulses", weighing 4 pounds total, they pack well. They would not fit in a scrapbook, though I suppose that is what the bottom of the tackle box would be for. Still, unless the tackle box has compartments as large as the seed packet, it would be difficult to manage. Some of the European packets I have are 5X6 inches or so, really large in comparison to ours.

The other ziplocs I have are herbs, root crops, cucurbita, tomatoes, lettuce, brassica, greens, radicchio, and miscellaneous. Similar package sizes, so they all pack well. They fit (barely) in a supermarket plastic bag in the back of the freezer.

I use a plastic box that I purchased at an office supply store. I also bought 4x6" plastic alphabetical dividers for index cards to put in the box. The seeds are stored alphabetically -- beans, and basil in "B", cabbage and corn in "C" etc. etc. Once the packet is open, I put it in a ziplock bag and then into the filing box. You can store your box in a cool dark place. The link below has photos.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vegetable Seed Storage System

Well, I tried the Eurosealer on the Ziploc bags, and while it sort of worked, it wasn't nearly as easy or good looking as I'd envisioned. The sealer, being so small, had trouble getting as deep as I needed it to in order to create the divisions, and it got so hot in spots, that it melted the plastic and made holes in it. =/ It was worth a shot, but I don't think I'll make any more than the 1 I experimented with, lol. I think putting them into individual zippered bags and then into a little box sounds like a good idea. Sort of like a little tickler file box for seeds.

I suppose that the answer to this question depends upon how much seed would be stored, and for how long.

For storing left over seed from seed packets, refrigeration in ziplock bags will significantly improve storage life, with minimal risk. Storing them in sealed jars or heat-sealed plastic bags would be better, since it would minimize the chances of moisture intrusion.

Frozen seed lasts even longer; but the seed must have first been dried properly, or ice crystals will destroy it. For frozen seed, I use heat-sealed foil pouches. Moisture will condense on frozen seed if the container is not allowed to warm before opening; so for larger amounts of seed, it helps to pre-package them into smaller amounts which can be quickly removed from a larger envelope/container.

Freeze-drying can also be an issue, if there is too much air in the container.

If you save your own seed, it can easily be in larger amounts than are practical for most of the methods already mentioned. I might save 3-4 pounds of bean seed each year, for each of 10-15 varieties. My ideal storage would be a refrigerated room, but for now, a large chest freezer in the basement is the next best thing. The freezer is off, but the basement stays at 50-60 degrees year round, and the steel freezer protects the seeds from rodents.

An unheated basement is an excellent place to store seeds, as long as they are protected from moisture, insects, and possible rodent damage. There used to be quite a few Army surplus ammo boxes around, these make great containers if you can find them. Gallon mason jars also work well for this purpose.