storing seeds in fridge or freezer???

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lssfishhunter Jonesville, SC(Zone 7b) Dec 25, 2012

I store my tomato seeds in the fridge but I don't know if I should store any of my other seeds there year round. I have watermelon, squash, okra, cantaloupe, and cucumber seeds that I am inquiring about. If I stored these seeds in the fridge or freezer, would it improve the seed's life before germination? I currently do not keep these seeds in air-tight containers and I do not use silica packs. I however, keep them in the containers that contain diabetic test strips away from heat/cold and sunlight.

I store my bean, corn, and peas in air-tight glass jars with silica packs underneath the cabinet away from heat/cold and sunlight. These will last several years by doing this method.

What do y'all do? Thanks for the responses.

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Diana_K Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b) Dec 27, 2012

The more tropical fruits are not likely going to do well in the freezer, though the fridge is probably OK. I would try vacuum packing them, actually. Oxygen ages them.

What I do:
No special storage.
Plant twice as many the second year, then throw away any with a poor sprouting average.

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Doug9345 Durhamville, NY(Zone 5b) Dec 27, 2012

Many seed banks are built into the permafrost. Svalbard Global Seed Vault is an important one.

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Jim41 Delhi, LA Dec 28, 2012

I have been storing all the seeds you mentioned in the freezer for years. A lot of them I freeze in the original package in a zip lock bag. Since my diabetic supplies started coming in those nifty snap top bottles, I put my small seeds in them. Handy to carry to the garden. The seeds I save like green beans, okra, and butter beans, I put in jars like you. Every thing goes in the freezer. I planted a new type of okra this year a friend gave me and they had been in the freezer for five years. I got a perfect stand the first time. He planted seed from the year before and like to never have got a stand. My theory is that if the seed germination is good going into the freezer it will be good coming out. Just a red neck comment he has learned from long experience.

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