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Lake Elmo, Minnesota

I've been storing seeds in a zip-lock baggie in my freezer with dessicant inside the bag. I've read that seeds also need air circulation. #1 is that true? and #2 is there a better storage method?

2/27/2003 4:38:28 PM

syracuse, ny

i personally wouldn't think so..but i'm no expert.
i asked a guy at a seed storage/preservation facility
if my method would work for 4-5 years and he said yeah...
that would be a 1-gallon glass jar with an absolutely airtight lid, and a giant silica-gel desiccant packet in there from a large copier box--get 'em free from a local copier dealer! and the cooler the better, but to go as far as to freeze them?? popular tactic and probably works, but the colder you get it before it freezes, the more the moisture in the zip loc bag or whatever tends to wanna condense and get on the seed---of course this might be counteracted by the desiccant in there as well---and what if you have a massive power failure, fridge breaks down,
spouse says 'not in my freezer, you don't!' and tosses them out (or by accident, lol) a widely-argued topic with plenty of theories and reasons! room-temp or slightly cooled, gallon jar, big desiccant packet, airtight lid, and , oh yeah....
as many 845s as you can fit in there!!! 'pal

2/28/2003 1:49:23 AM

Udine, Italy

Yes, seeds require oxigen, but in very small quantity especially when stored in the freeze (seed metabolism is very slow). Air contained in the bag is enough.

2/28/2003 2:18:31 AM

Montoursville, PA

I wonder if the act of vacuum packing would add years to ones ability to save seed.

2/28/2003 9:58:56 AM