saving seed

[oochee hunter]

Bought me some jimmy red corn, non gmo white corn and extra beans, peas, and other vegetables to plant this year. My intent is to save some of the seed for next year just in case things get crazy, so what to do to save seed to keep them viable for next year?

 

[Nicodemus]

I store mine in either ziplock freezer bags or vacuum seal bags, and keep them in a metal bullet box that seals tight. These boxes stay in the house.

After your harvest, save some of the best seed for next year. Before you store them though, make sure the seed is completely dried. If not they will mildew and be no good.

 

[livinoutdoors]

Nothing special. Just dry em out and put em in a plastic bag. I like to fold em into a paper towel so if they are not all the way dry it'll pull the moisture away from the seed. Really just dry them well. It can be a challenge in humid August. I have three ears of field corn i just set husked on a shelf to see if they would keep. They did.

 

[Jimmypop]

let them dry. stick them in the freezer.

 

[Redbow]

My Grandparents used to save seed then put them in quart jars after the seeds dried for the next growing season.

 

[oochee hunter]

Thanks for the replies, was thinking about oxygen absorbers for the container that I need to use. I will use a combo of the ideas brought forth. Thanks again.

 

[antharper]

My dad has stored leftover seeds for as long as I can remember . He puts them in freezer bags in the freezer

 

[fishfryer]

Thanks for the replies, was thinking about oxygen absorbers for the container that I need to use. I will use a combo of the ideas brought forth. Thanks again.

If you make sure the seeds are dry when you put them in the freezer you won’t need to worry about them gaining moisture if you seal them airtight. Insect development is also stopped. I store all my vegetable and annual flower seeds in my freezer.

 

[B. White]

I keep the majority of my seeds vacuum sealed in a dark closet in a room that stays cool. I've had no problems with germination. Most I just planted was marked 2022 and I try to use the oldest first. I have stored some in the freezer in the past and it might be better for long term, but no issues either way.

I would not waste the money on oxygen absorbers or anything else special. We do use them some, but mostly for wheat we seal up to grind later. Seeds were fine before AC and freezers, so I figure they'll keep a long time in the closet. The only weevil evidence I've ever had was with some peas I put in the bag, but did not seal since I wanted to make sure they were dry. I suspect it was the same moths that get in pecans, because we had a batch that didn't get shelled and they were flying out of the box when we moved it.

 

[westcobbdog]

This thread is a reminder I need more Heirloom seeds myself.