Question about seed storage

I have a burning question about the best way to store seeds .....

I just read an article in a gardening magazine that says:

Improperly stored seeds may have dried out and should be discarded. Be sure to store seeds in an airtight jar in the refrigerator.

So .... now I feel like a total idiot. I have never stored any seeds in the refrigerator. And some are just in paper envies.

I guess my other question is:

If not stored properly, how long would most seeds last?

Anyone know?

So far, all I know is about Sweet Peas & Nasturtiums. I have recently sown both from seeds purchased around 1985 and they all germinated, so I would say 20 years for those two. The Sweet peas were stored in sort of foil envelope, opened, but folded closed and the Nasties were opened and in a paper envelope. Both were in a plastic bin that stayed room temperature.

Suzy

Here are a couple of recent threads from the Seed Saving forum... the second thread has some good links on storing/saving seeds.

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/664964/

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/675092/

Don't feel like an idiot! I think you will find varying opinions on the best way(s) to store seeds, no matter where you look :)

~Gina

Becky, I don't know a reply that answers 100% of your enquiry.

I just can think of the seeds found in the pyramids after two or three thousand years, that germinated. I have read a lot about the ancient Egyptians and they did not seem to have refrigerators LOL.

The other example I can give you is our Atacama Desert, the dryest desert in the world. However, when the 'El Niño' phenomena occurs and it rains a tiny bit on the most southern third of the Atacama Desert, Mother Nature offers a wonderful display of the loveliest flowers that cover the desert like a colourful carpet. Bulbs (such as Rhodophiala bagnoldi and Rhodophiala phycelloides) remain dormant for 20 or more years. Seeds that have been under the hot sun for the same amount of years, germinate and bloom!

You see, there does not seem to be a general rule.

One thing is true: some seeds must be sown very fresh - otherwise they lose their viability.

Hugs,

Ursula

Not the very best way to store things, but I once found several large packets of marigold and zinnia seeds that my nephew had left in a aluminum storage building. The seed packets were commercial seeds and were several years old when I found them. I decided to plant them, and they all put on a great display.
I think ideally, seeds should be protected from extremes in heat and cold and never allowed to absorb moisture until ready to sow.
I store mine in a big plastic storage box in my sparebedroom closet. If I were to store them in the refrigerator, I would have to have one just for my seeds. LOL
I do store some in there for cold stratification, though. They are in there only for that purpose.
Keep them dry and from extremes and you should do fine.

Can seeds from tropical plants be stored in the fridge? Something I have wondered about.... Not that I have a spare fridge for my seeds either :)
Julie

Gina_Rose - Thanks for posting those DG threads!
Ursula - Fascinating information you posted! I can't believe that seeds several thousand years old actually germinated! Amazing!

All of my seeds are stored in envelopes and then in ziploc bags in my house. The A/C is always running. No bright lights shining on them. Most of these seeds I plan to plant in the Spring. So I am expecting most all of them to germinate.

I do know that some plants need cold stratification to sprout. And I have also heard that some seeds need to be nicked to sprout if the shell is hard.

I can't imagine Tropical seeds needing cold storage. JRush - Don't they naturally just grow when they fall to the ground given enough water/moisture? Tropical areas would be warm temp areas, correct?

Thanks everyone for all the useful info! :-) One more thing ...

Does anyone know how long Cardinal Flower seeds can be stored? I hear they have a short shelf life.

I mis-stated my question... I meant if you stored your tropical seeds in the fridge along with the other seeds, would it harm them? I store my seeds in an unheated garage, which gets down in the lower 40's at times. I have lost some tubers/bulbs this way - I guess it was too cold for too long a time. I haven't noticed any loss of seed viability, but I think a fridge runs a little cooler.
There was a listing of seeds & their shelf life - but I can't locate it now.
Here is a complicated equation for predicting shelf life - Try it if you dare! http://www.kew.org/sid/viability/index.html
This site lists 2-5 years for the Cardinal Flower.
http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/SeedlistLO-LZ.htm

Becky,
In our corner of the world the humidity rarely gets below 80%, as you know. I always store my seeds in airtight jars indoors. But I also add several spoons of uncooked white rice to the seed containers. Helps to absorb unwanted moisture. Any number of websites will tell you that the major killers of seed viability is temp and moisture/humidity.
I've never found it necessary to store them in the fridge. Some folks swear by the fridge idea, however. But consider this, if you take the stored seeds out of the fridge when you are ready to plant a few of them, allow adequate time for the container to come to room temp, otherwise you will wind up with some unwanted condensation within the container.
Also, I've heard some folks say they store their seeds in the freezer. I wouldn't recommend that idea. I read somewhere if the seed you place in the freezer has enough moisture content, then freezing them might create tiny ice crystals within the seeds, enough to destroy the seed germ.

Becky,
Forgot to mention that empty spice jars or baby food jars make ideal seed storage containers.

blmlb - Thanks for the great advice. I prefer NOT to store my in the refridgerator. Mainly due to having room in the fridge. Though I do know some seeds require cold stratification. We don't get that cold here for that long. (I am mainly talking about the spicebush seeds.)

That's a neat idea to store in used, cleaned out spice jars! :-)

I hadn't thought about using rice - I usually use the silica packets that come with shoes, etc. A great idea! Medication or pill bottles also work well - another way to re-use some of the plastics that have overrun our world...

I go to Hobby Lobby, Michaels, even Walmart and get those little Zip Lock baggies (they come in several small sizes) and label them for seed storage use. For anyone who uses 35mm film, you can also use those little film canisters for storage. I just like the small zip locks better, as they don't take up as much room and can be stored better for organization.

Judy

There are wbsites that sell the glassine baggies, but the orders are based on 1,000 count per unit. That's a LOT of baggies.