Seed collection popping after 5 years

[OldMedUser]

Sources? I’m interested

I've known for years from advice I read in old Cannabis Culture and High Times mags etc that like chicken you should never refreeze it once it's thawed or it goes bad. The world wide seed bank somewhere in Sweden or Norway keeps seed in a huge vault dug into a mountain where the temp and humidity is kept constant to preserve seeds for many decades. Can't remember the exact numbers but the temp is just above freezing with the RH pretty low. All the seeds are in sealed containers but they want the environment at optimum. I read a while ago that global warming caused some melt water to get in there and they were freaking out.

Granted that in the wild pot seeds are likely to go thru freeze/thaw cycles before spring is finally there but I'd wager that many of them get ruined during that period but when a pollinated plant is dropping hundreds of seeds the odds are that some will survive. Nature works that way.

Now you got me curious. Think I'll take 20 seeds, put 10 in and out of the freezer a half dozen times then germinate all 20 and see what happens to sprout rates.

 

[DrOgkush]

I’m only that interested because iv been asking myself the question of storage long term. I have 1000s of seeds from a large seed run friends of mine did. And was thinking that my safe wasn gonna cut it years and years to come.

 

[OldMedUser]

I’m only that interested because iv been asking myself the question of storage long term. I have 1000s of seeds from a large seed run friends of mine did. And was thinking that my safe wasn gonna cut it years and years to come.

I had the same problem but only a couple thou worth and donated them to the guys at Overgrow to hand out and auction to raise money for the server. I was never going to be able to grow them out and hated the thought of them aging out here. I still have lots more than I can use but send off seed packs to those in need here and there. I used to be broke and seedless too. Still cash poor but not wanting for buds or seeds.

 

[littleflavio]

Did you store them in the freezer?

Yes i did.

Once you freeze seeds they should never be thawed until you plant them then never re-froze. I put 15 seeds of a strain I crossed in paper towel to sprout as they had sat in my desk drawer or in the safe for 8 years or something and all 15 sprouted and grew.

When you take your seed container out of the freezer it should sit out for 12 hours at least to get to room temp inside before opening so you don't get that condensation on the seed packs as it will get into some of the seeds. The most I would do to store seeds is keep them in the fridge then if there's a power failure they aren't thawing out just getting a bit warmer until the problem is fixed.

I hope they still germinate OK for you.

Yo thats one of the best advice i got for quit awhile now. Thanks brother. Will try to germinate a few more seeds with my all reliable magic box . So its better in fridge than freezer?

 

[littleflavio]

i recognize alot of those packs. I can tell you where you bought some. GLO seedbank for the IHG and csb seed for the jaws . Good stash im seeing those black cherry cookies from jaws..some of those THUG pug are worth a pretty penny too. Been awhile dude. Glad to see your back around.

Damn...good to see familliar names still active here. Lol i think you reffered me some of the seedbanks where i got most of my stuff from jawz and dank

 

[littleflavio]

No joke my son has a lot of the same packs. Is that purple voodoo bigworm? Do you have any info on that pure land raise?

People have given lots of good input on this thread. I'm also in the process of going thru a lot of older stuff. I had more recently gotten into fems because of the convenienceand it seems like a lot of the breeders the last few years have felt the same way (I see you have some 'Rado and he's mostly gone that way but he's probably got the best "value" I usually pick up a pack every few drops).

On a side note iused to keep my seeds in old film canisters in the freezer but my son taught me they store best in refrigerators nowadays as OMU pointed out. Best of luck buddy..

Thanks boss, i got those from bigworm and alot of freebies when he was starting out, not sure if he was still active here or not. Landraise is pure sativa smelled like strong mango/super silver haze ive collected seeds when i was smoking it, which ive sent a couple from this group

 

[littleflavio]

I just keep them as is. I never had any problems. I’m confused? Decade old seeds sprouts no issues. No freezer. No fridge

I used to do that, but i had problems from where i moved where humidity can go as bad as high as 70%, 8ve had seeds stored in a drawer that sprouted lmao ‍

 

[OldMedUser]

So its better in fridge than freezer?

Not really. For long term storage the freezer is going to be the best bet but if you plan to use some of the seeds on occasion then you should package some up in sets of 5 or whatever you thing you'll need later then you can just take out a pack or two right in the freezer so the rest stay frozen. The seeds should be in well sealed containers of their own or small ziplock bags you can get at hobby places or dollar stores. Zip shut fold top over and seal with electrical tape to prevent freezer burn. You know what happens to a loaf of bread that's been in the freezer for a month. The whole inside of the bag is covered in frost. The cold will pull the moisture out of the seeds and dry them out so they won't work no more.

I figure the fridge is a lot safer and I've sprouted 20 year old seeds that have been sitting around in film canisters and they don't seal airtight at all. For storing pot I use plastic tobacco cans that have a nice flat seam that's easy to run a bead of tape around to make them as airtight as anything. I have a half dozen 1L ones full of sugar trim from years back I'm about to pull out and use to make a big batch of RSO.

I'm sure the fridge would keep seeds viable for longer than you really will need them for. Should be well sealed in the fridge too.

 

[littleflavio]

Not really. For long term storage the freezer is going to be the best bet but if you plan to use some of the seeds on occasion then you should package some up in sets of 5 or whatever you thing you'll need later then you can just take out a pack or two right in the freezer so the rest stay frozen. The seeds should be in well sealed containers of their own or small ziplock bags you can get at hobby places or dollar stores. Zip shut fold top over and seal with electrical tape to prevent freezer burn. You know what happens to a loaf of bread that's been in the freezer for a month. The whole inside of the bag is covered in frost. The cold will pull the moisture out of the seeds and dry them out so they won't work no more.

I figure the fridge is a lot safer and I've sprouted 20 year old seeds that have been sitting around in film canisters and they don't seal airtight at all. For storing pot I use plastic tobacco cans that have a nice flat seam that's easy to run a bead of tape around to make them as airtight as anything. I have a half dozen 1L ones full of sugar trim from years back I'm about to pull out and use to make a big batch of RSO.

I'm sure the fridge would keep seeds viable for longer than you really will need them for. Should be well sealed in the fridge too.

Thanks man, gave me a lot of idea. All of my seeds are still untouched, sealed and place in an air tight canister. I rarely plant nowadays and probably wont be running for in the near future on some of those strains that took me awhile to get. Awezome on point advice.

 

[DrOgkush]

Wait. But why are we freezing them?


Some of my seeds over 10 years old. All will still sprout if they were not damaged.

So why freeze? I’m mostly confused because the harshness of a standard household freezer. Is freezing supposed to be for like 30-40 years storage?

 

[Zett66]

Wait. But why are we freezing them?


Some of my seeds over 10 years old. All will still sprout if they were not damaged.

So why freeze? I’m mostly confused because the harshness of a standard household freezer. Is freezing supposed to be for like 30-40 years storage?

Some guy above said 30 years old germed from the freezer.... so ultra long term that works. But if room temp stays good for 10 years I dont think Ill use the fridge much anymore

 

[DrOgkush]

But wouldn a long term freeze like that pull moisture and dry the seed to crisp?

 

[MyBallzItch]

But wouldn a long term freeze like that pull moisture and dry the seed to crisp?

I'd be more concerned about humidity swings with older units. Do you remember when they suggested "defrosting" units a couple times a year? I don't want to "frost" and "defrost" seeds which is the logic I followed to store in fridge instead

 

[Zett66]

Great Advice!
I got frozen beans over 30 yo that pop regularly.....I take them out and let them warm up to temps for 24 hrs before attempting to start.

What strains are those if they are 30 years old???

 

[nuskool89]

What strains are those if they are 30 years old???

Pretty sure akbb has the dinosaur eggs hatching

 

[littleflavio]

But wouldn a long term freeze like that pull moisture and dry the seed to crisp?

It was an advice few years ago, canister then freezed. I also put desicants and grains of rice to help pull moisture. Im guessing puting them directly in the freezer is what you meant. After all this years im still learning lol, guess thats what happens when youve been out of the game for too long. Fridge with nothing inside but for my seeds lol

 

[DrOgkush]

I

It was an advice few years ago, canister then freezed. I also put desicants and grains of rice to help pull moisture. Im guessing puting them directly in the freezer is what you meant. After all this years im still learning lol, guess thats what happens when youve been out of the game for too long. Fridge with nothing inside but for my seeds lol

i don’t know dude. That’s why I’m asking. Iv been looking online as well thru google search. Not much. But there is some info on it. Like I said. I wanted to know for my own reasons. Because I will continue to buy more and make more.

 

[OldMedUser]

It was an advice few years ago, canister then freezed. I also put desicants and grains of rice to help pull moisture. Im guessing puting them directly in the freezer is what you meant. After all this years im still learning lol, guess thats what happens when youve been out of the game for too long. Fridge with nothing inside but for my seeds lol

I'm looking for a little bar fridge just for my seeds and also doing some slow dry curing for bud I've read about. Tried a couple jars in the house fridge but the wife didn't like the stink much so that's not gonna work.

I use a colour changing desiccant called Drierite to dry pollen well before sealing it up in vials. I just used some pollen from last summer on a plant downstairs and the way the white hairs reacted it looks like it still worked but it will be a couple weeks before I can tell for sure. Would be nice if it did work tho I also pollinated another branch with a tiny bit of fresh pollen from the same plant that I got from spraying one of it's branches with STS and it made male flowers. That branch is now in a mug of water under a couple small LED bulbs on 12/12 to drop pollen on some tinfoil to use for more fem seeds. Good CBD strain I want to preserve.

 

[littleflavio]

Thank God, all popped my boxed workes likes magic lol, now have 8 plants seedlings to grow. All 3/3 durban poison, 5/5 purple fever. Have way more grows than i need again lol. Still not complacent, gonna pop a few more randoms just to make sure my treasures arent damaged. Thanks @OldMedUser glad you are still here giving great advice.

Edited: i got what you meant now, the 3 bunk seeds fruity pebbles i mentioned might probably a damged seeds that i unsealed and took out 2 seeds that i grew last 2018 base on my journal, and placed back the 3 seeds in the freezer.

 

[littleflavio]

I'm looking for a little bar fridge just for my seeds and also doing some slow dry curing for bud I've read about. Tried a couple jars in the house fridge but the wife didn't like the stink much so that's not gonna work.

I use a colour changing desiccant called Drierite to dry pollen well before sealing it up in vials. I just used some pollen from last summer on a plant downstairs and the way the white hairs reacted it looks like it still worked but it will be a couple weeks before I can tell for sure. Would be nice if it did work tho I also pollinated another branch with a tiny bit of fresh pollen from the same plant that I got from spraying one of it's branches with STS and it made male flowers. That branch is now in a mug of water under a couple small LED bulbs on 12/12 to drop pollen on some tinfoil to use for more fem seeds. Good CBD strain I want to preserve.

Lol damn i cant shut off my big ass fridge just because of the seeds. I moved out here about 5 years ago and that thing is still running, good thing my wife only visits here with me only a few times a year, i made sure i fill up that fridge with just about anything when we visited.

Lol from what strains did you collect those pollens?