Thanks! gardening101usa...boy I really liked those ones you can write on. Jean sent me some for SASE's...It made it sooo easy. To be able to write on the baggie. Especially since I like plastic.
What's wrong with Plastic?
Datura seeds mold VERY EASILY - even when you think they're very dry . Generally, they will still come up even if they did get some mold on them, but it certainly doesn't help the germination . . .
When that happened to me one time, I wiped them down with dry paper towels to get as much off as possible and then put them out in the sun to dry more and kill the mold . . They were ok after that - but I NEVER put them back in anything air proof again .. . always gave them something where they could breathe . . .
Onalee
I just bought three types of bags from Papermart. I bought glassine bags, small zips with white area for writing, and some larger zips for bulkier stuff. Here's glassine bags for those who were asking: http://www.papermart.com/?GOCMP=Papermart_Campaign+%231&GOMTC=Phrase&GOKEY=Packaging+Products I've been making inner packets of waxed paper for quite awhile, and I'm hoping the glassine bags will save me the trouble. When you buy small seeds, they are often in glassine bags within the paper envelopes... very handy and the seeds are contained, not lost in the corners.
Having packaged and sent out lots of seeds, and having received lots of seeds in return, I have some words of advice. First of all, make sure your paper envelopes cannot leak. The manila coin envelopes don't seal completely, and can be bounced around alot in transport. Your recipient can end up with a bubblewrap envelope full of mixed seeds.
Second of all, keep in mind that small seeds can escape from the corners of envelopes if they don't have a 'webbed' corner. When using a pattern, web the corners and you'll have safer packets. I've included a picture of one of my packets that illustrates the corners.
I send seeds this way because the inner packets are much easier to extract seeds from... they pour out much better than from the zips. I have the outer packs so I can offer info and pictures. It's a lot of work and I sure don't expect it from anyone else. However, I use the little ziplocks for my own seed and for the trade seeds before I package them up. After I harvest seed, I clean them up and let them dry in an open container for a few days before packaging... for larger seeds, even longer.
If your not certain if the seeds are dry enough while stored in Ziploc bags. You can use a Silicon Gel pac, a fee sheets of non-chemically treated facial tissue, or even dry milk powder in a piece of facial tissue. But not having air in the bags has nothing to do with mold. Mold needs air and moisture. Most seeds are kept in air tight containers like jars, old medicine plastic containers and such for lenghthy time saving if your not using them the next season. I have even used 33mm roll film black plastic containers which I like the most for there not only air tight, but keeps light out too. People keep there film fresh by refridgeration and so there great for that too. Any sticky white label can be placed on the outside to write on also.
If you want some templates that don't say "Seed Site", I'm uploading some right now. give me a second and I'll post the address. I've got TONS and TONS, I had a lot of fun, LOL. feel free to download and save them, you can put them in a photoshop program and change the frames or flowers.
I've got 2 sizes, almost square, and skinny/long. The skinny/long will fit into most storage chests like these: http://www.lkgoodwin.com/more_info/small_parts_storage_cabinets/small_parts_storage_cabinets.shtml
give me a few, and I'll post the templates
~RedMolly
Thanks so much! I'm going to order some of those. Now that's what I call ORGANIZATION! LOL LOL
Looking forward to that RedMolly, much appreciated...Thank you.
alrighty ... there were more than I remembered, LOL, and I had to change the file type ... sorry about the delay! so: the webpage they're on is: http://webpages.charter.net/redmolly/
and the ones that start with SeedPack are the skinny/long, and the SeedRegular are the shorter/fatter ones. The ones that start with Veggie have vegetable pix, the Herb ones have herbs on them, the ones that say Frame just have a pretty frame around them instead of a picture. LOL, I had a good time playing with these!
Anyway, feel free to save them. The SeedPackBasic is a blank skinny/long, and SeedRegularBasic is a blank shorter/fatter, so you can add your own artwork if you want.
I checked them all out, and they look odd at first, but when they print up, each .jpg takes up one full page, with all lines and artwork, so don't worry, it'll work out perfectly!
glad I could share these with you, thanks for giving me this opportunity!
~RedMolly http://webpages.charter.net/redmolly/
There are some really cool envelopes on this site too.
http://www.blossomswap.com/envelopes.html
I like those too! :-D
This has been a very informative thread. . .really like some of your collection of seed packets RedMolly. . .I'll be loading them into my phote editor and seeing what I can do to personalize them. . .good rainy day project. . .thanks!! ;-D Janet
regarding the storage chests I linked to previously (http://www.lkgoodwin.com/more_info/small_parts_storage_cabinets/small_parts_storage_cabinets.shtml). These things ROCK! I got one of the big ones (# 10144) for $12.00 at Target! LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT! I used stickers to label the front of the drawers, and man-oh-man am I organized! of course, I need to get another one, or two, or ....
but they're great. can be hung or set on the ground. very very happy with mine.
Most of ALL...The ones here are VERY nice :-D
http://davesgarden.com/files/seedpackets/
Very interesting thread! Lots of links and lots of info!
Just a FWIW note.Re: Silica Gel - I can't remember where I read it but I was using the pill bottle packets in some dampish seeds until I came across an article...I think it was on one of the State University Extension sites (sorry, I can't remember which one)...the article said that it was good idea to use the silica gel to help dry seeds but that it shouldn't be used for storage. The reasoning was that the silica gel would dry the seed too far and could the dryness could destroy the seed embryo. So now I try to remember to take the packet out my plastic ( :-D) bag or pill bottle before I put the seeds away.
~julie~
Good point, Julie. My DH asked me if the dehydrator would help dry out seeds. It's a good one and has low settings. I just don't think I'd want to try that.
My DH suggested the MICROWAVE!!! :-O :-D
Seriously, I would think that the dehydrator for a little while would be a good idea...but like you, I think I'd use it for something like marigold seeds that I have an abundance of. ;-)
~julie~
You've got that right! Some of the denser seeds are an issue for me. It doesn't always get hot enough for them to dry on the vine...such as nasturtium. Air drying them can takes weeks.
Gourd,
I cure my hollyhock seeds of weevils by putting the seeds into a cookie tin with about an inch or two of a cat or dog flea collar. I leave them in there together for a week or 10 days. Works like a charm, has low toxicity. Buh bye weevils!
I bought 800 small ziplock baggies off of e-bay, 3 years ago, for $8 including shipping. I'm just running out of them now, and I think I'm going to go to paper. Just need a source. I love the plastic, but you have to make double super extra sure your seeds are dry, otherwise, you will get mold. April
I use glassine bags as inner packets and they are really nice. You can fold the tops over twice and put a piece of tape on the to seal. The tape comes off easily and the seeds pour out easily... no static like plastic. The ones I got are 2"x3"... much like the inner packets you get with some commercial seeds.
I've started putting paper packets inside of zips because of the static. I've got some glassine bags coming, sounds like that's going to work better than the bulky little paper ones.
For all of you young mothers that have just weaned babies from bottles.
I had a box of baby bottle drop-ins left over.
I put my seeds in them. The really dry ones anyway..
The seeds were easy to see and they poured out easy.
Just trying to make use of extra things.
They sit up good and the top stays open to let them vent, until they are ready to leave.
Also, they are easy to stack and you can still
see every seed. When they are ready to go i just trim the top off,
tape them up and send them off.
I use paper too, just depends on my mood that day! lol
sometimes I like to draw pictures on the paper packs. :-)
Hmmmmm "baby bottle drop-ins"..... Isn't that milk? Things must have changed since I had little ones.???? LOL Maybe..... oh, I don't know! GSkinner, what is it?
The other Carol
I'm glad you asked, Carol. I'm clueless, too.
Maybe this will help. http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/detail?prodid=613059 These bottles are open at the top and bottom, basically a tube and the drop in is a plastic liner to hold the milk.
OK, I think I've seen those around. Heck they just had the ol' plastic bottles when my sons were little... over 30 years ago! Heck, I could still fold a cloth diaper if I had to... one way for girls, another for boys! That's a clever idea for seed packaging!
You all are so much fun!!
I think if you can afford plastic; then that's more fun if you can get the zipper opened.
Copying seed packs is time consuming and fun if you have patients to work with your hands and money to afford the colored ink.
Each to their own and paper can be fun, quick and easy. Depends on one's preference.
You're right, Eddiegirl. The seeds don't care how pretty the packaging is, and the flowers that grow from them are just as beautiful! I think the main thing is to make trading pleasurable, not a chore, and to find a way to package seeds that keeps the accessible and viable. I strongly suggest glassine packets for the tiny seeds. No static and they don't leak out if you fold over twice and put a spot of magic tape to seal.
When those plastic baby bottle liners first 'came out', I used them for recipe card protectors -fit perfectly!
Amen, Weezi - whatever works is a good thing! It don't have to be pretty!