I have always heard if you keep seeds in an air tight container like a jar or plastic bag the seeds would die from lack of oxygen. I have no idea if that is true so I don't take chances, I don't keep my seeds in jars. 50 jars with only a tablespoon of seeds inside would take up a lot of space.
I have been keeping my seeds in white paper mailing envelopes. I can write the name on the envelope then seal it up with the seeds inside. This works fine until spring when I need to plant seeds. After I open the envelope and use some of the seeds I have to seal them again with tape or use a new envelope to keep the seeds from spilling out. There has to be a better way.
This year I am planning to save more seeds than ever. I spent about $50 on seeds this year and about $160 on plants. If I save more seeds I won't have to buy plants or seeds next year.
What do you keep your seeds in, I am looking for ideas?
- BrianSkilton
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- jal_ut
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I dispute this idea. I had some wheat that had been sealed in a #10 can for 11 years. It had been canned with an oxygen removal packet in the can. I tried to germinate this wheat. It germinated about 50% after being in that can for 11 years without oxygen.I have always heard if you keep seeds in an air tight container like a jar or plastic bag the seeds would die from lack of oxygen.
My left over garden seed is in paper envelops or bags which I keep in a cardboard box in the garage year round. When I save small seeds, I put them in a regular small envelope like you would mail a letter in. Larger seeds I save in a small brown paper bag. I prefer paper to plastic bags for seeds.
We have a dry climate here in Northern Utah. I don't know if this would work if you have high humidity.
You can put seeds in a jar and refrigerate them. Seeds keep better at constant cool temperatures.
Last edited by jal_ut on Sun Jul 05, 2009 4:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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If they are seeds that I bought I keep them in the package I bought them in. If they are seeds from plants in my garden I put them in a piece of folder paper. Both are stored in a cool area in my home in a plastic drawer that looks like this:
[img]https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/410xeplJKXL._SL500_AA280_.jpg[/img]
[img]https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/410xeplJKXL._SL500_AA280_.jpg[/img]
- hendi_alex
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- rainbowgardener
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I just keep mine in paper envelopes, which I sometimes keep in fridge and sometimes in freezer; either way seems to work. You are right about once you open the envelope, then it's harder to seal back, but my home saved seeds I usually don't save year after year.. if it's something I grow every year, then I throw out the left over seeds and collect new ones at the end of the season.
- hendi_alex
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- rainbowgardener
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I do often get rid of extra home grown seeds right after planting (I don't do that with seeds I bought). If I had a crop failure, then maybe that would mean something was wrong with the seeds. Anyway, I can always buy more if I have to. Buying seeds is way cheaper than buying plants. I just like saving my own seed because it seems so cool and earth-mothery...
I'm not a commercial operation, very small scale, although I do produce several hundred little plants out of my basement seed starting operation every year. Sell a couple hundred as a fund raiser for my church, probably give most of another hundred away and plant the rest (plus the ones that die along the way).
I'm not a commercial operation, very small scale, although I do produce several hundred little plants out of my basement seed starting operation every year. Sell a couple hundred as a fund raiser for my church, probably give most of another hundred away and plant the rest (plus the ones that die along the way).
- hendi_alex
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