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What is the BEST way to store your seeds?

16 years ago

At the end of last year, I had mostly new plants, hence very few seeds from the older bunch. This year, if everything goes well and the plants look healthy, I am expecting to pollinate a few crosses.

I read that I was supposed to put them in paper envelopes and put them in the fridge, but I guess new refrigerators have defrost cycles that cause the seeds to dry out.

I looked at different posts here, but was a little confused...

Do I put them in a water/hydrogen peroxide mixture to STORE in the fridge, or just after they are stored to plump them up and germinate?

Do I just store them in plastic (after drying - we have humid Julys/Augusts) instead of paper?

Help!

Comments (6)

bambi_too
16 years ago
As I collect them they go into paper coin envelopes. I let them dry for about 3 weeks. Then they get put into ziploc bags and into the crisper drawer of the refridgerator in the basment, those drawers are mine for seed storage.

I plant then in pots outdoors in April and May, and keep them moist until they are up and about 3 inches high then I water normally. I don't soak them. I transplant the seedlings into beds in July and August.
carmen_grower_2007
16 years ago
Saving the seeds as Bambi does is perfect. They will be viable for many years. I don't know how many but I have planted seeds that were in the refrigerator for four years and had great germination.
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If you want the best results, DO NOT USE PLASTIC! Use some sort of paper. I like newspaper, folded into envelopes and the seams sealed with "scotch" tape. You may want to use a double thickness of newspaper. The newspaper absorbs and dissipates any residual moisture your seeds may retain. Plastic will hold that moisture and mildew may set up. You can use an open plastic box or pickle jar for storage but don't put on the top. Also, put paper towels in the bottom to absorb and dissipate moisture. For shipping, leave them in the newspaper envelope and then make fold them in cardboard for protection. Mail them in a padded envelope.
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Hi John, Yes, I agree with Resin but for the American folk I believe the temps are 33.8 - 35.6 F. I once Fall planted Shingle Oak acorns and they came up in the Spring, not even in the ground, just in a planter box that I made. If I can, I'd like to get up there and see how your reforestation project is going next year. I think the seedlings in this photo were in a Swamp White Oak box that I made but I think I also put Shingle Oak acorns in that box (I think the seedling right above the red one in the lower left corner might have been one. You'll notice most have the typical serrated looking Oak leaves, I think those were the Swamp White Oaks, (which is also a nice tree, and easy to grow from seed). In any case the Shingle Oak acorns (Q imbricaria) grow easily when Fall planted too. Will
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I store mine in the crisper draw in the fridge, in separate plastic bags. I make sure the seeds are dry first so they do not mold. The only exception I make to that are whole berries that I know I'll be using that year -- the seeds are cold stratifying in the pulp until I use them so that's useful too. This from "Growing and Propagating Wild Flowers" by Harry Phillips: "Viability is extended when the seeds are stored dry and cold...The seeds of Blazing Star (Lyatris spicata) remain viable in cold storage for at least six years...Refridgerator storage is important because to keeps seeds fresh for sowing, you must reduce the rate at which they respire , or 'breathe', and normal refridgerator temperatures are sufficient for this purpose." A lot of people have success storing their seeds at room temp, but I keep mine in the fridge to be on the safe side.
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fairysoapgirl
Original Author
16 years ago
Great, thanks for the help... I want to try my hand at making my own babies next year!
beaufort-2006
16 years ago
Sorry to mess things up the method that I use is to collect seeds from pods airdry for 3 to 5 days , place in the 1 by 2 or 2 by 3 in plastic bags which you can get in a craft store on sale 200 for about 1.50 place in veg draw in frig. at a temp of around 40 to 45 degrees and you can store them one to two years I have used paper but thay dont work as well as thay collect moisture from frig.A friend of mine, air dries them then puts them in deep freeze it works for him but I havent used this method yet.I only do a few hundred crosses a year so I do have a few thousand seed to take care of I do inspect them for problems about every two months. If you have any problems or need help e mail me DICK
carmen_grower_2007
16 years ago
You can always experiment with a few. Ex: try putting a few fresh daylily seeds in the freezer and then look at them in a month. They will have exploded from the moisture in them. Why even attempt it when they last for years in the frig.? Same goes for all sorts of veggie and other annual/perennial seeds.

I bought into the whole Y2K thing and bought a bunch of veggie seeds that year in bulk, 'just in case'. I am still using those seeds every year as well as sharing the seeds with my family members. I have noticed no drop at all in germination.
bambi_too
16 years ago
The whole key to storing any seed is drying them throughly, and keeping them cool.

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