From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Denver

What do you do to store 200 seeds until next spring?

11/4/2005 3:48:21 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Get ready for several different methods...The biggest thing is keeping your humidity low, temperature constant, and out of sun light. We Dry them to the point the skins fall of. Then store them in ziploc bags with a desiccant pack. Then keep them out of the sunlight. Some swear by the freezer method. But I can tell you this a self defrosting freezer thaws and refreezes.

11/4/2005 4:02:47 PM

Garden

I think I may have dried mine too much last year, if thats possible. I used several of those military sized desiccant pouches, and this season I had a terrible time germinating. Might have been dumb luck or maybe just dumb, but this year I'm going to stick to one pouch per jar.

11/4/2005 4:07:52 PM

Jericho Vermont

May I ask where I could find one of the desiccant pouches. Thanks. John

11/4/2005 7:03:25 PM

Garden

I got mine off eBay of course. They are probably bigger than needed, 4" X 2"

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws
2F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=desiccant&category0=

11/4/2005 10:15:07 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Are these desicant packages the same things that come in the anti-static bag of a hard drive or a shoebox? If you're not storing too many seeds, you could probably use one that you have lying around the house somewhere.

11/5/2005 12:06:36 AM

Santa Cruz, CA

What happens if you just leave the seed in a small coin envelope over the winter? Will the seed dry out? get moldy?

Should you store the seeds first in small coin envelopes and put those in jars with a desiccant. What size desiccant per 100 seeds?

11/5/2005 1:19:15 AM

ENGLAND

Desiccant packs can be bought from any good Camera & Photographic Store.

Regards
Mike

11/5/2005 6:39:41 AM

South Harrison , N.J.

I have always kept my seed in a plastic baggie with (1) sheet of standard household paper towel. I fold it twice, it seems to keep things nice and dry, and no mold.(very cheap)

11/5/2005 8:58:35 PM

Sioux Falls, SD [email protected]

If you reuse a dessicant pack from some other packaging, you must keep it sealed till you use it. You can't just leave it lying around unpackaged and then later expect it to still work. They only have so much moisture removiing capacity.

I'm still not convinced though, that they're needed, except in humid places.

11/6/2005 10:20:04 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Put them in your freezer in a air tight container

11/6/2005 4:43:05 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

In Niagara two years ago, Steve Daletas mentioned that he had spoken with seed manufacturers and that they recommended that seeds be stored in a refrigertor. So, that's what I do.

11/6/2005 7:56:41 PM

Garden

Desiccant pouched can also be "renewed" by baking them at 350 degrees, I think it said for 15 minutes.
At least the ones I bought could.
Just be careful when taking them out of the oven, because wouldnt you know it, they are like 350 degrees which is like half way to 700 which is really hot.

11/7/2005 9:13:08 PM

Garden

Oops sorry, thats 15 hours

11/7/2005 10:01:46 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

I used to run with a bunch of car guys who vaccum sealed their cars during the winter in Mi. with several 25# desicant packs inside, so even if you are TomB, there is a desicant pack in the right size for you!?!?!? LOL Peace Wayne

11/7/2005 10:23:53 PM

Syracuse, NY

Faded---lol!
anyway, since we are on the topic,
i use 1-gallon glass jars for other-growers' seeds,
each with a desiccant packet or two in there from a
local copier company, and i use quart-size Mason jars
for my OWN seeds, but as of yet no desiccant because they
are dried to the max. before being put in there;
the lids on them are geared for CANNING,
so they must be really effective. i will, however, put a
smaller desiccant packet in each jar before storing them away this winter, as they are starting to take-up too much of my bedroom floor, lol.....eric

11/8/2005 6:44:50 PM