Storing seed question..

I'am new with seeds-Can someone tell me if seeds should be stored in the refrigerator?
Thanks, Ingrid

They don't have to be kept in the fridge but they can be.
For most common seeds cooler is better. Absolutely dry is essential. Keep away from places with wildly fluxuating temps (and humidity). That is, if you have a choice between relatively steady temps all the time (even if not particularly cold) and a place like an unheated shed that can get pretty warm in the day and then freeze at night take the former.
But I keep all mine in the fridge and freezer in baby food jars or mason jars that seal well.

caron, Thank-You will do that.
Ingrid

I've read where you didn't want your seed to dry out. What I have read was to use perlite about 10 to 20 times the volume of seed that you have. The perlite should be soaked for 24 to 48 hours with water and kept with your seed. This place suggested you check your seed for stand water and drying out every 2 weeks. Is the that far off base? I can't say because I'm new to storaging seed myself.

Possum_Eater
Hmm, that's a different way forsure. I might try that with seeds I have many of. just in case...
Thank-You Ingrid

I would be rather afraid my seeds would mold or rot if kept with damp perlite...or damp anything for that matter. I always keep my seed dry, and most of them in seeled containers in the crisper of the fridge.

edited for fat finger typos.......................

This message was edited Oct 28, 2004 4:52 PM

Possum, never heard of storing any seed with damp anything. Water and dampness is what you use to rehydrate and start seeds going again with.
The other Carol

Yes Possum, it's way off base. The worst enemy of seed saving is moisture (and mice).
I'm not talking about cold or warm stratification techniques or winter sowing methods-that's not storage. Damp seeds rot even in the fridge.
Am also talking about most common veggie and flower seeds (not tropicals). I have read that clematis is one that you do not want to let dry out completely, is better planted "fresh" and not stored at all--but haven't been able to confirm that.

Dry...Dry ...dry....

Anything damp will just set you up for failure. There is enough naturally occuring humidity to keep seeds viable everywhere...even the Egyptian Pyramids.

I store my seeds in a closet in an unused bedroom with silica gel packets placed everywhere. Fridge is ok too...freezer is ok....just remember, each time the doors are opened condensation occurs...which means moisture. Not so bad with the fridge, if you keep silica gel or rice in the jar...with home freezer storage, you can get ice crystals in your seeds which means instant death. The freezers that the seed companies use are special seed freezers with lower temps and humidity controls.

As caron pointed out, some seeds do not store well at all. Check each type you are planning to save and store (or not) according to their needs.

For popular vegetables, Seed to Seed by Susanne Ashworth is well worth the price. It gives you all sorts of good information.

Thank-you ALL for all the help this is wonderful!!!
Ingrid

If you keep seeds or packs of seeds in jars with tight sealing lids like baby food or mason jars, then opening and closing the fridge/freezer is not a problem. However, If you do store this way then let the jars come to room temp *before* opening them or you will see condensation on the inside of the jars. And that is something you want to avoid.
Some climates need silica gel with seeds and some do not. We don't here in Colorado but you might where you are.

Just noticed the CO tag caron....yep, you have a whole different set of rules for you.

Low humidity in West KY is on the rare Fall day that it drops below 60%....we're over 80% nearly all the time....and higher. Seed saving is a challenge here to say the least.

If your storing seeds in a shoebox with a silica gel pack I'm not sure how long that will last. If the containg unit is not air tight then the silica gel pack will become hydrated and useless. The containing
unit must bbe air tight. I am curently using an old WWII amo case with rubber seal.
I then place a 4Gram rechargeable Hydrosorbent Silica Gel pack inside. http://www.rue.com/misc.html I think a ziplock bag and one of these Hydrosorbent Silica Gel packs would be a great system. But heed "melody's" advice and let the contents reach room temp before opening, if possible, even if the gel pack takes care of this moisture.

I use a setup like this for roll film and camera lenses, except I do not put the camera lenses in the fridge! The film Yes. Freeze it to for years and years of storage.

Yes, I think seed storage and longevity is directly related to where you are doing it. Though Ceeades and I live in a rainy coastal town, the temps are always cool (relatively), so we don't have high humidity. Also, the seeds don't undergo radical temp changes. I have seeds I collected in the mid-90's that are still viable. I kept them in sealed containers in a box...usually in my basement, but not always. If seed is older, I just sow a bit thicker to allow for it. Often I am surprised by a really good germination rate and I'm over-run with little green guys!

Plastic storage boxes with seals are what I use. I try and rotate my seed supply to roll over at least every 5 years, but as Weez stated, viability lasts much longet than that. Temp fluctuation as she stated is also hard on your seeds.

By all means...if storing in a cooler area than where you open your containers...let them come to room temp before opening.

Good point, Melody!

I didn't realize this but caron was right. What I am talking about is different methods of cold stratification. I am also talking about tree and shrub seed instead of flower and veggie seeds. I hope that helps clear a few things up. Didn't mean to confuse anybody. Sorry.

That makes much more sense.....I do something similar with seeds that need stratification.

*Bump*