Because seeds are alive, they inevitably lose viability due to environmental factors. Leaving your seed packets outside in the sun on your potting bench, in your car, or on your kitchen table will negatively impact their viability. By keeping them in a steady environment, you will prolong their ability to grow successfully in your garden.
1. Maintain Cool Conditions. Store out of direct sunlight in a cool spot that maintains a fairly consistent temperature.
2. Maintain Dark Conditions. Sunlight is a signal that it is time to sprout, so it is important that they live in a dark room or a refrigerator.
3. Maintain Dry Conditions. Make sure that you don’t store them in a spot that is too humid where they may sprout or mold. If seeds are too wet, they can rot in the refrigerator. If you store seeds in the refrigerator or freezer, place the packets in an air-tight container and ensure the seeds are properly dried to begin with.
4. Protect the Seeds. Critters, rodents and bugs may enjoy tasting your seeds so it is important to store them in proper containers. This could be glass jars, ziplocks, metal containers, or plastic pill bottles. We store our seeds in paper envelopes or bags kept in critter-proof storage boxes.
Purchased seeds will store just fine in the envelope they came in, plus retail seed packets have all the information necessary for planting and caring for the seeds.
Seed saving class this weekend with Jess Harper will teach you to save your own home-grown seeds. Sign up here!