mourningdove
Pura Vida in my garden
Like beans, corn, tomatoes. Is there a best way for long term storage?
How long can seeds be stored?
- Thread starter mourningdove
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dissimulo
Membership Revoked
Depends on the plant, but generally not more that two years with any significant percentage remaining viable. Nitrogen packing the seeds may result in longer shelf life, but I've never seen actual evidence.
I consider this one of the biggest prep problems for those (like myself) who do not live at their retreat. You have a limited time to get that garden started
I consider this one of the biggest prep problems for those (like myself) who do not live at their retreat. You have a limited time to get that garden started
I'm tired, waiting on the washer to finish, so this may be a bit garbled. Many seeds will keep longer than 2 years in good storage conditions. Recommended best storage usually includes freezing in tightly sealed containers with a dessicant pack added. That said, parsnip and onion are two that do not store well. Parsnip particularly is good for only one year. Thank goodness most of us don't depend a lot on parsnips. If they happen to be your thing then be forewarned. But for ordinary common garden crops seeds can be kept for several years. Store them cool, dark and dry and test every year or so for viability. Even seeds that have lost some viability are usable. You just have to plant more of them. Hope this helps a little.
The tomotes, Mortgage Lifter, heirloom variety, that I grew last year where packed for 1999. I had stored them in glass mason jar at room temp in the house
I have some left just may try them again this year. I have had other very old seeds germinate just fine, sometimes better than fresh ones.
Beans and corn from the cliff dwellers in the southwest have grown after centuries. They were found in the ruins in clay pots.
hd5574
I have some left just may try them again this year. I have had other very old seeds germinate just fine, sometimes better than fresh ones.
Beans and corn from the cliff dwellers in the southwest have grown after centuries. They were found in the ruins in clay pots.
hd5574
dissimulo
Membership Revoked
I'll add that I have tested aged seeds in my home garden on a number of occasions and had bad results. The climate you are storing the seeds in probably makes a difference. My climate is rather humid.
I have not kept notes, but after two years, most plants seemed to germinate at less than 25%. My asian seeds, like bitter melon and thai eggplant were a 100% failure after two years.
Your mileage may vary.
I have not kept notes, but after two years, most plants seemed to germinate at less than 25%. My asian seeds, like bitter melon and thai eggplant were a 100% failure after two years.
Your mileage may vary.
MaxTheKnife
Membership Revoked
Mom has been on a seed sprouting frenzy the past month or so and she has sprouted seeds that are over 10 years old stored in the original seed packages at room temp. Hot peppers and flowers as well as some kind of herb I can't recall the name of right now. I've heard five years is a benchmark for most seeds if stored dry and cool. I don't believe in freezing seeds for storage. That's not the way nature does it so it just doesn't make sense to me. But what do I know?
Susan Ashford has a book, Seed to Seed, that is worth reading. She writes about all the main plamt food groups, how to propagate the seed, how it can or cannot be cross pollinated, and how to store it.
As I recall, most seed lasted for 4 years, if stored in cool, dry conditions.
BUT...onion seed is very fungible...may not last a year....except for chives, which last quite well.
AND...if you freeze seed....there is something you are supposed to do...like not take it out of the container, or thaw it in the refrigerator, because too quick a thaw can rupture the seed body.
I have grown 10 year old corn seed.
But this is why you should seed open pollinated seed: You will find that some plants adapt better to your mini-environment. Those seeds should be kept, but eventually you have to bring in new stuff, as Ashford says you need about 60 plants to maintain the gene pool...and I REFUSE grow 60 zucchini plants!
As I recall, most seed lasted for 4 years, if stored in cool, dry conditions.
BUT...onion seed is very fungible...may not last a year....except for chives, which last quite well.
AND...if you freeze seed....there is something you are supposed to do...like not take it out of the container, or thaw it in the refrigerator, because too quick a thaw can rupture the seed body.
I have grown 10 year old corn seed.
But this is why you should seed open pollinated seed: You will find that some plants adapt better to your mini-environment. Those seeds should be kept, but eventually you have to bring in new stuff, as Ashford says you need about 60 plants to maintain the gene pool...and I REFUSE grow 60 zucchini plants!
Christian for Israel
Knight of Jerusalem
as long as you like...though they probably won't be good after a few years...
AusieGrandad
Inactive
I believe the optimum storage temperature for many seeds is about 5'C or about 42'F Storage at that temperature should increase the life of the seeds by a factor of almost 10.
I am not sure about tropical seds as they are not normally exposed to low temperatures.
As seeds age, the viability gradually decreases.
That is, you may need to plant more seeds to get the same number of seeds to germinate.
AG
I am not sure about tropical seds as they are not normally exposed to low temperatures.
As seeds age, the viability gradually decreases.
That is, you may need to plant more seeds to get the same number of seeds to germinate.
AG
A.T.Hagan
Inactive
I'll second the recommendation to get Suzanne Ashworth's <i>Seed To Seed</i> book. It's pretty well the best in its field and you'll learn a lot from it.
In a nutshell though the deal with maintaining seed viability is this: The cooler and drier the better. What might only maintain good viability in your cabinet for a couple of years will at least double that if you keep those same seeds in a dry, air tight container in the refrigerator and yet more still in a dry, air-tight container in your freezer.
As mentioned above some seeds such as onions simply do not have much long-term viability, but for most ordinary vegetable garden seeds you'll get good viability for four or five years at least if you'll simply keep them cool/cold and dry. My seeds are stored in my freezer and last year I planted corn that had been in the freezer for six years and achived nearly 100% germination. Last fall I planted some twelve year old Alaskan pea seed that had spent the first ten years in the refrigerator and the last two years on the shelf and still managed about 50% germination. They're in the garden blossoming now.
Cool and dry is the way to go.
.....Alan.
In a nutshell though the deal with maintaining seed viability is this: The cooler and drier the better. What might only maintain good viability in your cabinet for a couple of years will at least double that if you keep those same seeds in a dry, air tight container in the refrigerator and yet more still in a dry, air-tight container in your freezer.
As mentioned above some seeds such as onions simply do not have much long-term viability, but for most ordinary vegetable garden seeds you'll get good viability for four or five years at least if you'll simply keep them cool/cold and dry. My seeds are stored in my freezer and last year I planted corn that had been in the freezer for six years and achived nearly 100% germination. Last fall I planted some twelve year old Alaskan pea seed that had spent the first ten years in the refrigerator and the last two years on the shelf and still managed about 50% germination. They're in the garden blossoming now.
Cool and dry is the way to go.
.....Alan.
Max said: I don't believe in freezing seeds for storage. That's not the way nature does it so it just doesn't make sense to me.
I beg to differ as that is exactly what nature does in my northern clime. In fact, I don't save/start seeds for a certain cherry tomatoe because, each year I let some rot under the plant (initially not really on purpose--but you always miss picking some). These never fail to germinate next spring and I give away many starts as well as keep some for us. Over the winter, they freeze and thaw many times.
This also happens with other self-seeding plants for me, including dill, parsley, borage and several others.
I beg to differ as that is exactly what nature does in my northern clime. In fact, I don't save/start seeds for a certain cherry tomatoe because, each year I let some rot under the plant (initially not really on purpose--but you always miss picking some). These never fail to germinate next spring and I give away many starts as well as keep some for us. Over the winter, they freeze and thaw many times.
This also happens with other self-seeding plants for me, including dill, parsley, borage and several others.