Long term Seed Storage
 

I'm putting together a collection of non-hybrid, non GMO seeds for long term term storage. I shopped many of the pre-fab collections, and found that they had a lot of seeds that I wouldn't grow, so I decided to create my own collection from various sources.

I plan to put the seed packets in a large mason jar with dessicant, and use a water tight seal.

My question is, would I be better off storing them in the refrigerator or the freezer. My fridge is 37 degrees F, and freezer is -2. I've heard a lot of people store in the freezer, but I've also read that it can damage some seed covers.


Thanks in advance for any constructive input!

Re: Long term Seed Storage
 

I'm going to suggest the freezer:

Doomsday Vault

Re: Long term Seed Storage
 

here's info i have filed, hope it helps;

freezer re storing.

re drying;

Suzanne Ashworth in her book, Seed to Seed, explains the right way of how to do this using desiccant. "...Color indicating silica gel is an excellent "desiccant" (moisture absorbing material) for drying seeds... The [silica gel] beads are deep blue when completely dry, but gradually change to light pink as moisture is absorbed... The drying process requires a glass jar with an airtight lid... Determine the total weight of the seeds and packets, and then measure out an equal weight of dark blue silica gel. Place both the packets [of seeds] and silica gel into the jar and screw the lid on tightly. The silica gel will immediately start absorbing moisture from the seeds...
"Both large and small seeds reach optimum moisture levels for storage after seven or eight days in the container... Open the container and separate the packets of seeds from the silica gel then repackage the seeds in airtight containers."
Ms. Ashworth suggests using equal parts of seeds and desiccant. This is not practical considering the large amounts of food we are storing at one time. So, what do you do? You don't want to put your food in the oven as this will destroy the storageability of your food. I only know one other way - you have to air dry them. Farmers have big fans that pull outside air into their storage bins and circulate it up through the seeds. The fan goes on when the humidity conditions are low, and is turned off as the humidity rises either because of wet weather or dropping temperatures. Even this isn't really practical for the average person as he doesn't have the equipment. The easiest thing to do is make sure the food you get is already at 10% moisture or less, then pack it up for long term storage before it has a chance to sit around in moist conditions and gain moisture. If you live in a dry climate like we do here in the Intermountain West - Don't Worry!
Let me repeat Geri Guidetti's seed dryness test you can do at home. "...ten percent is good. Don't fret about needing instruments to measure this. Longer seeds should snap smartly, cleanly in half when bent if they are this dry. Wheat and corn seeds should shatter and powder when hit with the head of a hammer (That's the Geri Guidetti Dry Seed Test--you won't find it in a book. It is very reliable, though.) Beans, peas and other large seeds will shatter....Geri Guidetti, Non-hybrid Gardening Forum moderator
Alan T. Hagan in his food storage FAQs also has a way of determining moisture content. Don't confuse his method of checking for seed moisture as an accpetable method for drying your seeds for long term storage, however.

Re: Long term Seed Storage
 

I put mine into a thick, plastic bag intended for freezer use and wrap em up good in that and just stick em in the freezer. The ones I've used have all had good germination results, but they are less than 2 years old anyways. Havent done anything long term yet, but will let you know in 8 years or so ;)

Re: Long term Seed Storage
 

90% of the seeds planted in my garden year after year are 5 plus years old. Frozen and rotated. I don't have any problems. I would strongly suggest staying away from desiccants as they are unnecessary and could affect the ability of certain seeds to germinate.

Re: Long term Seed Storage
 

Stated above storing seeds in a freezer brings a question to my mind.
The seed storage is for the most part in prep for end of world as we know it , correct ?
Ok , whatever happens , end of world or just extended power loss from storms either way power goes out , freezer thaws , temp change and humidity causes condensation and seeds become wet and either mold or sprout .Wouldn't it be better to just keep them dry in a dark area and a constant temp. ?
Seeds have been successfully planted and grown that were found in pyramids of egypt and myan .etc seeds hundreds to thousands of years old , no freezer just dry and dark with constant temps .

Sure some here are more prepped than the rest of us and can power their freezer through the crisis but what about everyone else that are still in the stages of preping food , seed , water .etc power being the larger expense that is on the back burnner ?

Re: Long term Seed Storage
 

You are correct, but not all seeds will last indefinitely, and some may suffer and wont germinate, though thats true of the freezer storage as well.

If you have a freezer bank and something happens, simply take them out of the freezer, let them unthaw in a cool, dark dry place and continue to store them as you would sans-freezer. Youll get a few years out of that at the very least.

I keep em in the freezer not so much for end of the world, but because i have a small garden and never use a whole packet of seeds. I live in a very humid area too, and while I guess I could store em in a mason jar with an 02 absorber, it just seems to take up less space in my second freezer in the garage. I dont have hordes of seeds either. This is just my personal method. I know some here have a literal TON of seeds, or close to it:wink:

EDIT:

Best bet though is, as always, to always try to store heirloom seeds. Dont use all your stored heirloom of a particular cultivar in one year because heirloom plants may still cross polinate with another cultivar and not give you true seeds. If that happens, then the following year youll still have some of the original seed left and you can isolate them better. Just some advice I read from a gardner more experienced than I.

Re: Long term Seed Storage
 

+1 to what Lessoil posted. I have Ashworth's book and consider her the authority on seed saving. I got a five-pound can of silica gel from Sorbent systems (actually I went overboard and got a few five-pound cans of the clear and 1 can of indicating to make my own mix). If you don't want to be overboard, just get a can of the 5% indicating. It is well worth it!

http://www.sorbentsystems.com/bulksorbents.html