How to Store Leftover Garden Seeds (2024)

FAQs

How to Store Leftover Garden Seeds? ›

One of the more practical methods for storing small quantities is to place leftover seed in sealable jars or other airtight containers and store in a cool, dark area such as the refrigerator (not the freezer). A layer of powdered milk or uncooked rice at the bottom of the container will absorb excess moisture.

Store your seeds in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight. Exposure to temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit will greatly decrease the viability of your seed for future planting seasons. Seeds can be stored in sealed containers, plastic bags, and wax or paper envelopes.

Store seeds in tightly sealed glass containers. You can store different kinds of seeds in individual paper packets in one large container. Keep seeds dry and cool. A temperature between 32° and 41°F is ideal, so your refrigerator can be a good place to store seeds.

A dry seed will last much longer at room temperature than a moist seed in the fridge. Cool and dry are the two ideals for most of the seed we are concerned with. As a rule of thumb, the storage life of a seed is doubled for every 5˚C drop in temperature and 1% drop in moisture content.

In order to successfully store the seeds you harvest, they must be cleaned thoroughly first.

Spread the seeds on newspapers, in a cardboard box, or in an old telephone directory, and allow them to dry between one and three weeks. Often seeds need to be separated from the chaff (the seed casings and debris).

Vegetable and flower seeds may be kept for one year without appreciable decrease in germination. Storage may be extended to 10 or more years under proper conditions. Seed moisture and storage temperature are the most important factors in determining how long seed can be stored.

Seed packets can also be organized in plastic, sealable bags and then be stowed away in a Tupperware or other plastic or metal container. If humidity or moisture is a problem where you're located, placing silica gel packets can help manage excess moisture.

If properly stored, cabbage, broccoli, cucumber, squash, watermelon, eggplant, and radish seeds will remain viable for 5 years. Snap bean, carrot, pea, pepper, tomato, cauliflower, and pumpkin seeds can be stored for 3 to 4 years. Seeds of sweet corn and onion remain viable for only 1 to 2 years.

Why is seed saving illegal? ›

Legality. While saving seed and even exchanging seed with other farmers for biodiversity purposes has been a traditional practice, these practices have become illegal for the plant varieties that are patented or otherwise owned by some entity (often a corporation).

Gardeners often ask, “Can I just toss seeds in the grass?” We do NOT recommend it! Planting perennials and bulbs into poorly prepared soil will result in disappointing growth as well. Removing grass and weeds will reduce competition and make room for new plants to grow and thrive.

No matter how small the seeds, grains and kernels, these items can cause major damage as they expand in water and, of course, are pretty hard and tough to break down to begin with. Do yourself and your drains a favor and toss these in the garbage or, again, the compost pile.

The ideal storage temperature for seeds is 35-40°F with a relative humidity of less than 40%. Most refrigerators hold a temperature of about 40°F but have high relative humidity. Seeds stored in a refrigerator should be kept in containers that have a good seal to keep the humidity levels low.

Store in Glass Jars

A sealed glass jar can keep excess moisture out and protect seeds from pests like mice or insects. Store jars in a cool, dry location such as a cool closet, root cellar, or a refrigerator. Test the germination rate on the seeds about one month prior to planting.

Cool environments that are optimal for keeping seeds in dormancy are ripe for causing water to condense, so airtight containers will be your friend here. Mason jars are favorites with seed savers, while ziptop bags, freezer bags, and other plastic containers with tight-fitting lids will also do the trick.

If properly stored, all types of leftover seeds will germinate in the next growing year, and many varieties will remain viable for years to come.

The best plants for saving seeds are heirlooms, old-fashioned varieties, and open-pollinated plants, because the seeds usually grow into plants that look just like their parents. If you save seeds from hybrids, they likely won't grow into the exact same plants next year.