The seeds contained in a seed packet are usually more than most gardeners can use in one season. And often, gardeners have eyes bigger than their garden and a bunch of unused seeds in their packets.
It is usually fine to store unused seeds until the next season but the seeds can actually go bad. Here’s what seed experts say about proper storage to increase the lifespan of seeds and their viability.
meet the expert
- aaron steele Consumer Horticulture Extension Specialist in the Department of Agriculture at Iowa State University.
- debbie weingarten Wolcott is the marketing content specialist at High Mowing Organic Seeds in Vermont.
Why do seeds go bad
Aaron Still, Consumer Horticulture Extension Specialist at Iowa State University, explains how seeds are actual living things that can die if not grown in the proper conditions.
Debbie Weingarten of High Mowing Organic Seeds describes seeds as “nature’s vessel of choice.”
However, this does not mean that they are invincible as any type of seed can lose its viability.
“To keep your seeds viable after a growing season, it is important to maintain seed dormancy,” Weingarten says.
There are three factors that cause seed spoilage: too much light, too hot a temperature, and high moisture or humidity. If exposed to these conditions, the seeds can break dormancy and begin to germinate.
“And once started, this process cannot be reversed and the seed, unable to fully develop in the place where it has been stored, will die,” says Still.
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differences in seed viability
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Some seeds keep longer than others. onion seeds While only lasts for a year radish seeds Keep for up to five years – always assuming they have been stored properly.
Seed banks store seeds for decades but storing seeds at home is a different story. Still explains how seed banks often have ideal storage conditions that can never be replicated at home.
He adds, “Home gardeners can expect seeds to remain viable under good storage conditions for two to four years, although germination rates will decrease each year, especially after year one.”
How to Store Seeds
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To store seeds properly, Weingarten recommends paying close attention to temperature, humidity, and light, as these are all conditions that prompt seeds to germinate. She recommends storing your seeds in an airtight container.
“If moisture is a problem in your area, use silica gel packets to help keep the seeds dry,” suggests Weingarten.
According to Weingarten, the ideal temperature for seed storage is 40°F or lower, but she admits this option is not available in every home.
“The next best option is to store the seeds in a cool, dark place where temperatures are consistently between 55 to 60°F,” she says.
Good storage locations might include a cool closet, root cellar, or refrigerator, which are all locations that provide the ideal combination of cool, dry, and dark, explains Still. To keep moisture out, Steele recommends using a sealed glass jar, airtight bag or plastic container. If your storage space gets a lot of light, Steele recommends using an opaque container to keep the seeds dark.
Weingarten warns that other enemies of the seeds are rodents and insects, such as moths and beetles.
Leave the seeds in their original paper packets so you know what they are and when you bought them (seed packages are usually date stamped) but keep them in an airtight container.
Tips for Seed Preservation
if you want save your own seedsStoring them properly, as described above, is not the only important thing to successfully preserving seeds. There are also some other basic things to keep in mind:
- Only seeds of open-pollinated plants are worth saving. Seeds of hybrids (which you can identify by the “F1” after the name on the seed packet), the seeds will not produce a plant that is basically perfect, and you will get some funky looking vegetables.
- It is necessary to prepare the seeds before storage. This varies depending on the seeds; Some flower seeds require almost no preparation while other seeds require more preparation. Preparation for storage may include separating the seeds from the pulp such as in tomato seeds or possibly washing the seeds. all seeds must be completely air driedSo that they do not get moldy during storage.
- Sort the seeds and remove any with mold, blemishes, or cracks that do not appear intact, full-sized, and healthy.
- It is important to label all seeds promptly so that you can remember what they are even if you think about them. Because when the next gardening season comes around, you’ll have a hard time remembering which seeds those seeds are.
