How do you mail your seeds?
Sandra
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
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Sandra
8 years agoRelated Discussions
How do you organize your seeds?!
Comments (9)I store my seeds in a bread loaf tupperware type container in alphabetical order. I used 3 x 5 index cards that I write the name on and staple the seed packs to the card. I try and staple above the ziplock with the bags and if very small seeds not in the ziplock, I put in a seed ziplock and staple. I keep all of the different types stapled to the index card. For example, I have a card with hollyhocks, stapled to it are 4 different types of hollyhocks. When the card if full, I start another and put a #2 Hollyhock on it. All seeds are logged into a spreadsheet with sowing, growing, germinating, who I got it from and planting info. I sort by sow month and pull out all the seeds I need to plant. When finished sowing, I re-staple to the card and re-file. All finished packs are put in a pile and I add a "DONE" to the spreadsheet and next year remove all the "DONE" seeds and start over. I use a staple remover when sowing and a little dixi cup to collect the staples BYW, all my seeds are stored together except for the ones that need to be stored in the fridge. I started stapling because those little ziplock seed packets get so unruly and some of the folded seed packets get lost on the bottom. Good luck! Andrea Appaloosa909...See MoreHow do you keep all your seeds organized??!!
Comments (11)I'll have to apply some of your methods, such as using larger boxes with envelopes as dividers. I've been using 1 gal zip-lock bags inside approx. 20x12 in box, each bag holds seeds to be traded (containing same seeds in smaller bags), seeds for us, empty seed packets and 1 with notes about the trades from this year only- older ones are kept elsewhere. Each bag is marked with permanent marker - 3 diff. colors in my case. Once I prepare seed pkts, they go in another bag and into the fridge, thankfully have a new larger fridge I can use one of the crispers for the seeds! What I've been doing , the old fashioned way, writing down on the piece of paper basic info -seeds to be sent and the seeds I'm most hopeful to be getting, address and I make a square which I mark, often with large point pen/marker , once I send with a check mark, received with an X, often have GREAT across the note -ab 1/4 size of the typing paper page, which I also use for seed envelopes. I make simple seed packets, with plain white or any color typing paper, lately I've been using pink. Fold the page in half (crosswise), cut the folded edge, then cut each crosswise into 3 equal piecesSmaller seeds -salvia and purslane, for instance, are best cleaned up in a plastic bag, give it a few shakes, let the seeds fall into the corner, discard most of the chaff, snip the corner and empty seeds into packets. Night Blooming Jasmine - got a new idea, after gathering white seed pods, again, place in the plastic bag, crush gently with fingers to open the pods, take out into paper bag or large envelope and let dry. Unless you prefer to leave it in the pods to dry, works either way. I keep my freshly gathered seeds under the patio cover away from the kitties, for a couple of days or until I feel like cleaning them out. If there are any bugs -seldom have them, put seeds in the freezer for a few hours-that'll get 'em! Of course, certain seeds shouldn't be refrigerated or frozen, such as palms and other tropicals, need to learn. Again, thank you all and am going to try some of your methods. Lots for me to experiment and learn daily. Happy gardening and best wishes, Bea-GB...See MoreHow do you store your seeds?
Comments (11)stage, i think our house doesn't get warmer for a couple of reasons. #1. We keep all the blinds/windows closed on the south side of the house during the daytime so the hot air can't get in. #2. On the 2nd floor of the house (attic) we have fans set up blowing the hot air OUT the windows. So as heat rises in the house during the day and makes its way up to the 2nd floor (since heat rises), the fans blow that heated air out of the house. #3. We live on a lake. The south side of our house faces the lake and more often than not, the breeze comes straight across the lake hitting the front of the house. The water in the lake cools the air (breeze) so even when its warm, we generally have a comfortable breeze keeping the property cooler. I notice this ALL the time in the summer. There are many days where its substantially warmer at work (15 min away) than it is at home....See MoreHow Do You Store Your Bean Seed?
Comments (23)Thanks, Fusion, for posting that link, I think it is the study that I have been searching for. Bookmarked it again... I wish I knew how to transfer bookmarks from a dead computer, I lost a lot of good references. Drloyd, after shelling, I dry nearly all of my beans on trays exposed to room light. Since I don't transfer seed into storage containers until the indoor humidity is low (below 40%), some of that seed is exposed to artificial light for 2 months or more. As reported above, I have seen no ill effects from this treatment. However, I make sure that direct sunlight from nearby windows never hits the trays. For drying pods that were not fully dry when picked, I place them under a fan. The air circulation is the most important factor for rapid drying; the use of heat runs the risk of reducing seed life. Drying pods closely under a light might be OK as long as some means of air circulation is provided. I store seeds in the dark because my initial research into seed storage said that heat, light, and humidity were the enemies of stored seed. To be honest, that was quite some time ago, and I guess I never questioned the light aspect... because dark storage has worked so well for me, and you don't mess with what works. (Additionally, as mentioned above, packing bags of seed tightly in boxes also helps me to keep air from reentering the bags, and further moderates the temperature of the seed inside.) It may be that light is inimical to stored seed because stored seed is enclosed in a container, which is most often transparent. With no air circulation inside, heat from radiant sources can penetrate & accumulate very rapidly in a transparent container. I've observed this most notably in ziplock bags, which can heat very rapidly when exposed to sunlight. For that reason, when carrying seed into the garden for planting, I use a small ice chest. Light absorption can directly induce heat into the seed; but I still wonder whether the light itself - and perhaps its spectrum - has any direct effect on seed metabolism. There is anecdotal information that it doesn't, of seed stored for years in a jar in a lighted room. Personally, I still prefer to err on the side of caution, and keep my seed in the dark....See MoreSandra
8 years ago
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