Taming The Savage Seed Packet

In a prior post I mentioned that I'm a big fan of growing lots of fruits and vegetables. 

One consequence of this practice, is that I have many seed packets on hand.  Storing these packets can be a challenge, particularly once they are open.

For a while, I just threw all my seed packets into a shoe box, but I found this to be rather unsatisfactory because I had to hunt through all the packets anytime I needed to find something.

A Better Way to Store Seeds

So here's a quick tip that will make it easy to find your seeds and keep them from spilling. 

The basic idea is to create a kind of "file box" for your seeds using an index card box, or other plastic container, and some index card dividers with the alphabet printed on top.  Put the dividers into the plastic case and then just file your seeds alphabetically.  I organize mine by vegetable type, so all the tomatoes are filed under "T", winter and summer squash under "S" etc. etc.

For open seed packets, I first slip the seed packet into a zip-lock plastic sandwich bag.  This keeps the seeds from spilling out into the box.

Seed packets vary in size depending on which company from which you purchase and also the type of seeds you buy.  For example, corn, pea and squash seeds are big and so the seed packets are generally larger as well. To accommodate these larger seed packets, I decided to buy a plastic CD/DVD case (9" wide x 17" long and 7" high).  You can find these at your local stationary store. I also purchased 5" x8" index card tabs and these fit perfectly into the plastic box. (See below photos of seed saving box and various sized seed packets)

How Long Can I Save My Seeds

It depends on the type of seed and the conditions under which your store them.  But it's longer than you might think. Somewhere between 2-10 years for most types of veggies. 

Yes, the germination rate will decline over time, but if you only want to grow a few plants, you won't really care if the germination rate is 90% of 50%.  

Incidentally, seed longevity may be very high for some types of plants.  According to ThriftyFun.com, "archaeologists unearthed some ancient magnolia seeds from a Japanese tomb some years ago, and on a whim, tried planting them. They sprouted and turned out to be a previously extinct form of magnolia." 

So don't get nervous about where to put your new seed saving box. If you don't have a Japanese tomb, just put it in a cool, dark place. Your seeds will be fine.

If you have a way of storing your seeds that you think others would like to know about, please post a comment below or join the new PlanterTomato group on Facebook and post your comments there.

Comments

[Julianne Idleman]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for this. I've been experimenting with different ways to keep seeds in order and have settled on a box with a dozen dividers, one for each month of the year. That way when I am done with a seed packet, I can slip it into the month that I next anticipate needing it. Not a perfect system when you want to find a specific heirloom to share a few seeds with a friend, but it does help me remember to start the cauliflower seedlings I'll need for fall when I get to the July section of the box.

[Mark Delman]

Hi Julianne: Organizing by month is great alternative. I see the main advantage of organizing seeds the way you suggest is that it reminds you when to plant. I think people call a system like this a "tickler" file. The only downside I can think of is if some of your seedlings die, and you need to replant, it won't necessarily be obvious where to look for the seed packet. Having said that, I do think this is neat idea and one I might consider as well. Thanks for the great comment.

[KarenTal]

My biggest issue with seed storage is moisture. We've been toying with the idea of buying some of those little dessicant packets to throw in with the seeds,

[Mark Delman]

Hi Karen: You make a good point. Where I live, we have a very short rainy season and after that, no rain for most of the year. I'm sure dessicant would work to keep things dry, but I would be curious to know if anyone else in a humid environment has had significant issues. As I mentioned, I put the packet into zip lock sandwich bags to prevent open packets from spilling, that may be all you need to do. Let's see if anyone else has a suggestion.

[Tessa]

Thanks for the article.
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