Storing seeds

[MistaRasta]

Hi guys, have a question about storing seeds.

Within the past year or so I've come to collect the most seeds I've ever had in possession. Never thought I'd have more than a pack at a time.

My question is, How should I store them?

Cool dark place, with silica? Or in the refrigerator?

The seeds won't be used for another 6 to 12 months.

 

[TonightYou]

Good question. I'm kinda wondering the same thing.

Right now I've got my beans in the bags they came in, stored In a closed container, and stored in a cool dark place (travelling willberrys anyone?). I know the whole freezer method, but I'm concerned about when the time comes to move them. How many freeze, thaw, or semi thaw cycles can beans handle? I probably should at least put all the keeper beans into a larger airtight container with some silica I suppose.

I'm looking forward to ideas, thanks for asking this MistaRasta!

 

[gabechihua]

If you're going to use them within 12 months you really don't need to worry about it. They'll be just fine if you throw 'em in a drawer or a box. I've never experienced any germination problems with seeds stored this way. If you're going to put 'em in the fridge I would put 'em in a air tight container with some silica.

 

[TonightYou]

See I have like partial packs I wanna save. Due to space, time, and how long it may be before I get to these beans, I'd like to keep them viable for as long as possible. Would the fridge be better than freezing?

Sorry MistaRasta, not trying to jack your thread, I'm happy you asked it.

 

[MistaRasta]

See I have like partial packs I wanna save. Due to space, time, and how long it may be before I get to these beans, I'd like to keep them viable for as long as possible. Would the fridge be better than freezing?

Sorry MistaRasta, not trying to jack your thread, I'm happy you asked it.

Lol, you're all good my brotha. Ask away, I'd like to get as much info as possible..

I was also wondering the difference in freezing vs refrigerating them. I'd be scared to freeze them as I only have limited amounts of each strain and can't afford to lose any.

The main reason I ask is because I live where it gets humid as fuck in the summer and my ac has a hard time keeping up, keeping them in a drawer doesn't seem feasible right now.

The inside of my fridge sits at about 45 degrees is this what they need?

 

[growone]

been fridge storing for about 4 years or so
everything still viable from last checks
but i've been growing some of my own seeds from crosses
still, good 2+ years and still viable
you need to make sure you isolate your seeds from the fridge's near 0% humidity
i store in plastic container with uncooked white rice, supposedly keeps humidity in a safe zone

 

[MistaRasta]

been fridge storing for about 4 years or so
everything still viable from last checks
but i've been growing some of my own seeds from crosses
still, good 2+ years and still viable
you need to make sure you isolate your seeds from the fridge's near 0% humidity
i store in plastic container with uncooked white rice, supposedly keeps humidity in a safe zone

Nice, do you just pour the rice in the container?

I was thinking of just buying little silicon packets to put in there

 

[growone]

Nice, do you just pour the rice in the container?

I was thinking of just buying little silicon packets to put in there

just pored it in, wrapped the seeds in tissue to keep them organized
lot of ways to skin this cat, i saw quite a few posts on the uncooked rice method
it was easy and organic so seemed like the way to go

 

[806KING]

Silica packs work fine that's what I have been using for years. Works good for me

 

[808newb]

Yes I am curious too, both short and long term. I live where it's always very humid(80%+ all the time). I have to keep my table salt shaker in a ziplock when not using or it gets all clumped up within a day or two.

 

[gabechihua]

Yes I am curious too, both short and long term. I live where it's always very humid(80%+ all the time). I have to keep my table salt shaker in a ziplock when not using or it gets all clumped up within a day or two.

If you're dealing with humidity that bad the fridge is definitely where you want your seeds. Like I said before put 'em in an air tight container with a silica pack, uncooked rice works as a cheap substitute, but might not be as effective.

 

[eastcoastmo]

been fridge storing for about 4 years or so
everything still viable from last checks
but i've been growing some of my own seeds from crosses
still, good 2+ years and still viable
you need to make sure you isolate your seeds from the fridge's near 0% humidity
i store in plastic container with uncooked white rice, supposedly keeps humidity in a safe zone

I do exactly the same things with my 150+ strains i have. I keep mine in little paper seed envelopes with name, date of purchase and if they are reg or fem. Ive popped beans that are 10 years old and still had a 90% germ rate

 

[*****]

I been storing seeds in a very simple way for decade : plastic bag with a small note for the strain. Put all the plastic bags with various strains inside a huge yellow envelope . I put the envelope in a dark closet without any extra special care.

Never had trouble germinating seeds.

 

[amgprb]

I keep my seeds in little zip loc baggies (ie jewelry bags, dime bags, the "freebie" seeds bags). I keep about ten beans or so per bag, add one piece of rice, then i put about ten of those baggies into a medicine bottle, Ihave about 20 medicine containers in an airtight tupperware in the vegtable crisper in the fridge. Maybe a bit overkill, but works great for me and protects my investment!

 

[BobBitchen]

Iv been storing in Ball jars with silica pak, in fridg
have had no probs

 

[st0wandgrow]

I germinated a partial pack of Bubblegum from Serious Seeds a while ago that had been sitting in my fridge, in a Tupperware container (with rice in it) for about 2 years. 100% germination on those beans FWIW

 

[Sativied]

Popped some ICE seeds recently I had in my fridge for 7 years. Not 100% results by far, but that wasn't the case 7 years ago either. They should not be stored below 21f but can be frozen.

 

[rory420420]

get the bagged silica at a hobby store..its for dried flower arrangements..bury em in that,wrapped up,in a jar,then food seal em..keep em in a cool dark cellar/closet..youllbe good for years.

 

[DarthBlazeAnthony]

I been storing seeds in a very simple way for decade : plastic bag with a small note for the strain. Put all the plastic bags with various strains inside a huge yellow envelope . I put the envelope in a dark closet without any extra special care.

Never had trouble germinating seeds.

I agree with you...I think that most beans survive on their own. No need to freeze or refrigerate unless your starting a seed bank. This is the complete opposite from some respondents however. I'm curious if some agree that it does not matter if you freeze or refrigerate your beans. Few say to keep them frozen for years and most say it is ok to just keep them in a dark area. What if you want to save a seed for 15 years? What do YOU do? Thanks for sharing.

 

[LIBERTYCHICKEN]

Carefull with the sillica jell , it can actualy dehydrate a seed to death (but unlikely)

white rice is great it is a mild dessicant but wont over dry, it's also cheap and tasty

Modern frezzers make bad storage places for seed due to the de-frost cycles , And refergerators in a home are not ideal due to temp. fluctions from the door being opened 100x a day , this can cause condensation and destroy seed

basments/crawl spaces/root cellars make good storage areas due to regular temp. with no extreme fluctions , it's also generally dark (4' below grade is almost always 55 deg year round), with no chance of power failures

I keep my seeds vedgi/herbs in a painted black mason jar inside paper envolopes with a inch of white rice on the bottom. A seed like hemp should last atleast 40 years like this (as long as the jar stays sealed)

A general maxim concerning LTS of seed is the larger the seed the longer it can safely store , hemp seeds are fairly large so they should store well