Making seed packets

How long can you keep seeds?

if you need a template to print for seed packets, let me know. I would be more than happy to e-mail you some :)

Hi, Tomden

The shelf-life of seeds is a big topic. Some will be viable longer than others. The environment you keep them in is important, too. I'd pose that question in the propagation forum.

Thankyou

I've made my seed packets myself for the first time this season. Got my inspiration from Flowox..Thanks Flowox! For me it's to expensive to print in colour so I use black ink on a coloured paper. I'm very proud about the results. I've used coin envelopes before, but they cost about 5 Eurocent a piece. So it's much cheaper and definately more fun to make my own packets.

Weezingreens, I did but no response, it's been suggested to reference them on line, but I don't know where to do that, any suggestions? Thanks, Denise

glad to hear that Saya :)

tomden, I'm sorry that you've not gotten an answer yet but I really don't know either.
I do know that there was a post a while back and people said that they have had seeds that were over 10 years old and they were still viable. I think it all depends on the seed and how it had been stored. Allot of people put their seeds in a closed container and keep them in the fridge. Hope that helps some with your question.

Hi, Tomden. Here are some sites:

http://search.msn.com/results.asp?RS=CHECKED&FORM=MSNH&v=1&q=Seed+Longevity

Thanks so much! Denise

I love this thread! So many great ideas here!!
You guys are great!

I have been making my own in PSP since I started collecting seeds. I've finally hit on a method I like best.
I have a blank set up with basic info to complete (like height, zone, exposure) and my email address. Then I add a picture, the Latin & common names. Then I can duplicate it and I end up with 8 to a page.

I don't like to do cut outs (my hands cramp), so I like this method; I can fold and tear them easily into 8 packets. I fold each one into thirds, taping the center seam overlapping. I end up with a folded end which I tape. Seeds are added, then I fold down the other end and tape it. No way my seeds are gonna fall out.

here's an example:

Hi Everyone,
I'm really new to this, my very first checking a forum. I live in the deep south, so I have lots of seeds to trade or send. But I thought I'd start with the making of seed packs. Great templates, saved some on my computer to print up later. Next thing for me, checking out how to list my seeds and check out what everyone else has. This has been fun.

Welcome to the Garden, darlenecom! Yes, trading seeds is fun, and putting the packets together is a project in itself, but it's fun to personalize the seeds you send out. I just started my seed trading journal last year, and it wasn't hard at all. You'll do fine.

These seed packets are really easy to make, too. I just did a few yesterday. :)

Could you use wallpaper and lick/seal the foldover edges?

I think you can use just about anything that strikes your fancy, lilies. Having purchased and traded lots of seeds, I do know that its important that the packaging remains intact as time goes by. I use glue sticks, and I know they may come apart, so I always use an inner packet made of wax paper so that seeds won't be lost.

Here is a few more sites that have seed packets.
http://www.grandmageorge.com/
http://alenkasprintables.com/seed_packets.shtml
http://www.geocities.com/siggyrose/two/two.html

Thanks, Pinky! There were some beautiful seed packet designs on those sites. It sure saves a lot of designing time! One suggestion I have is to make webbed corners so that seeds can't escape. You can use any of those templets and just cut webbed corners. I got my orignal templet from the Borough extension service, and I've found the webbed corners very helpful. Here's what I'm talking about.

I prefer the coin envelopes too, but find they are too expensive around here.

lilies, here's a site that sells the small ones for about 3 cents each when bought 500 at a time: http://www.keysan.com/ksu6352.htm

Thanks Weezingreens! The link doesn't work for me. This will be in US $ anyway. I'll have to add the difference in the dollar and shipping.

I use an simple origami envelope pattern that doesn't require printing or glueing. You can put one small piece of tape on it, if desired. I have not found it necessary. It's downloadable at:

http://www.sweb.cz/artbysheryl/OrigamiSeedEnvelopes.doc

Hey, thanks for the origami envelope. I had never used that one before, but I think I'll give it a shot. :) Looks easy enough.

Hi everyone,

I just found your forum and I thought I'd post a question here that you folks may be able to help me with. I own a gift shop and have quite a few corporate accounts that send out thank you gifts. I thought making seed packets would be a wonderful idea and have even played around with a few templates I did. One big question I have is what is a really nice but inexpensive paper to use for the seed packets? I have done them on regular 20lb paper and on a 24lb matte photo paper. the photo paper is nice but bulky and the regular paper just doesn't cut the mustard ...

Would anyone have any good suggestions for a nice paper to use?

Thanks for all your help!

Carla

Loved all thse tips, I have to come back and read all of them! There were 1000 tiny 2 x 3 ziplocks on the web for about ten dollars, so I use those. I wrote an informative label on Excel, (listing common and botannical names, basic sun, water, bloom information and any mandatory need-to-knows about the plant) printed it out a dozen to a sheet, cut them up and pop them in with the seeds. They aren't pretty but I hope others like them as much as I do. Wondering how I can combine the information with something a little less stark.

You might try making labels that you could stick on the bags. Most Avery labels are 30 to a sheet. Each label is 1"x2.75" If you are a savvy Excel user, you can import clip art, too, I believe. If you have Publisher, even better.

I was toying with putting the picture of that particular plant in the background or on the label somewhere, but the cost of colour print doubles everything. Am I being too stingy maybe? I have been using Excel for nigh onto fifteen odd years now and absolutely would die without it, as it allows so much versatility. In either case, I have some great ideas now, thanks to everyone!

try going to a dollar store or WalMart and look for borders on sale, they make lovely envelopes and pretty cheap, just seal with a name tag

ladyannne, using color when printing isn't necessarily all that expensive. Don't use the best resolution quality, keep the images small, and avoid dark background images. Another method is to touch up black and white images with felt pens...just a dash of color here and there. If you aren't using label material, just paper, color papers add flash.

Weez, not a bad idea! I made our own Christmas gifts tags one year, had a ball. White card stock and millions of rubber stamps, then my GS troup and I sat on rainy days and coloured them in, gold pens for glitter, etc. Found memories!

FOND memories. I needa typing class, new glasses, or both?

Hey, ladyannne... at my age, found memories are pretty good! Goodness knows, I lose enough of them! LOL!

Does anybody know of some downloadable seed packets templates? The ones I have found are all .gif or .jpg files. I'm looking for one I can add text to so I can type in the seed name/type, etc and then print them out.

Do you have a publishing program, Pville?... such as MS Publisher. It if often part of the Office Suite program. This program allows you to use the downloaded jpg or gif images and overlay with your text, pictures, etc.

Thanks Weezing. I guess I could do it with Serif Page. Actually ending up making one from scratch just using MS Word.

I just didn't see how you'd be able to write over the image in Word.

I'm not. I just put my own image in as clip art and them put the text below it.

Oh, I was under the impression you were looking for a pattern to cut them out.

Yes I was. But decided it was just as easy to make my own. I just print on regular paper and then fold it not quite in half lengthways, tape up the sides, fold over the little extra from the front side as a flap and then tape it after I've put the seed it. I just type the new info on each packet for that particular kind of seed before I print it.

Whatever works!

I loved your packets, Weez!! It got me improving mine. And by jove, I think I've got it!

I use Excel. I take my plant photos, remove the backgrounds, add the plant titles, and place that pictures in Excel right next to the information. I have two kinds, one is without the folds for gluing, these pop right into 3 x 4 ziplocks once they are folded.