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Seed Storage Question

M

MaxR

New member
I'm wondering about storing seeds. My goal is for them to last as long as possible. At least 5 years. As I understand it, my choices are either 1) keep them in a jar with desiccant at room temperature or 2) store them in the fridge with desiccant. I realise that room temperature storage means the seeds will only be good for a couple years and this is not good since many seeds could go to waste, in which case the fridge would be a better option. My concern with keeping them in the fridge is that I don't have a fridge dedicated exclusively to seeds. The fridge would need to be our food fridge, which is opened numerous times throughout the day. Even with dessicant, I'm worried the temperature fluctuations might make the seeds go bad. What do you think? Buying a new fridge is not in the cards at the moment. If neither of these two work, maybe there are other options? Note: We do not open our freezer as often, maybe a few times a week.
 
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May have been pure luck, but two seasons ago I planted a 20 year old seed that had been kept in a garage in a plastic jar, it grew and produced some very nice end product. I'm not entirely sure it would work that way if I tried again, but I have more seeds than I could ever grow in three lifetimes so it doesn't even phase me if one doesn't ever germinate.
 
I encourage people to never store seeds in the fridge or the freezer. Fact is, temperatures will fluctuate and that will create moisture. The desiccant will need to be changed and if you miss that, seeds are not going to like it. Keep them in a jar in a dark, climate controlled area of your house. I've used a bag, in a ball jar in a drawer and just popped 5 year old Dutch Treat seeds.
 
I agree with all the above responders as far as storing seeds. I keep mine in small labeled plastic bead containers kept in a box in the dark. The fridge is for food and beer! Or your beverage of choice. I don't buy seeds, so forgive my naming. What's really in a name anyway? IMHO, It's either Indica, Sativa or a hybrid when you get right down to it. I have these going back for many years and they all still germinate. All are from the original seeds from the strains like GSC, Headband, Diesel, Train Wreck, Ooey Gooey and such from my fellow growers in Humboldt over the past 30 years. Now they're just the fruits of my labor. I breed for the traits I like and call them whatever suits me. Works for me, and I get no complaints!

Seeds.png
 
Right! I remember when they just called em Type 1 (Sativa),Type 2 (Indica) and then Type 3 (Ruderalis). Then along came hybrids! I came across Mazar-i-Sharif back in 83 when Afghani was all the rage. I had never heard of the term "Landrace" until much later. It's fun getting old! I've seen Mazari mentioned on this site and might like to check into getting some of those seeds.
 
Just a thought here but you could always put them in the vegetable drawers in your fridge. I don't really use mine so if I stored mine in the fridge, that's where they'd be. I have mine in a ziploc baggie on a dark shelf of a TV stand that I keep in my grow room. I have seeds in there that are probably about 5 years old and they still germinate fine.
 
I now keep mine in the fridge in ziplocks, used to keep them in jars until I went to use some and some damn little tinny bug had eaten them all. I have used seed seed that was 20 YO out of jars kept in a closet, did just fine too. I did loose a batch of seed, I put them in a medicine bottle, in just a few months all were dead! IDK what the med was, but I no longer save those bottles for reuse.
 
How long would you way the seeds remained viable? What would you estimate the germination rate to be?
 
Have you encountered any issues doing so? How do you deal with &/ or protect against moisture fluctuations?
 
Wow! What's the germination rate for 20 year-old shelf-stored seeds? Also, have you encountered any issues storing seeds in the fridge, such as moisture/dehydration?
 
I don't really do anything, just keep them there like they are. Haven't had any germination issues yet. Only issues I would encounter would be if I left the glass door open and my dogs got my seeds.
 
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