How To Store Seeds

How to Store Seeds: A Guide From Stor-It

Growing seeds can be a very rewarding experience. You dedicate all that time tending to your seeds—and if you’re lucky, they’ll turn around and blossom for you. But a good crop doesn’t happen with a snap of your fingers; if you want a good crop next year, it’s important to learn how to store seeds to keep them viable when they’re not yet planted in the ground. 

To help you navigate storing seeds, we’ve gathered a few helpful tips to get you started. 

How to Store Seeds

Whether you have visions of a beautiful garden with colorful flowers or a planter with all your favorite veggies, our guide can help you preserve your seeds for all your future crops. 

1. Make sure your seeds are dry.

The cardinal rule to storing seeds is making sure your seeds are dry. Whatever you do, don’t store damp seeds or those that you just harvested; this can cause mold to grow or ruin your seeds altogether. We recommend letting them dry out for at least a month before storing them. 

2. Store seeds in air-tight containers.

If you’re trying to figure out how to preserve seeds, placing them in an air-tight container is a good place to start. Some like to place them in plastic baggies or glass Mason jars, but if you prefer to keep them in their original packets, just put them in a sealed plastic container. You can even organize them like a library card catalog, placing dividers between them to help you locate each seed packet. 

3. Add silica gel packets to storage containers.

When it comes to long-term seed storage, we suggest placing silica gel packets in your seed storage containers to help absorb any moisture that might get trapped inside. You can repurpose those in your vitamin bottles or shoeboxes, but you can also buy fresh packages at a low cost. 

If you go this route, just be sure to replace the packets every six months or so. 

4. Organize, label, and date your seeds.

You might think you’ll remember the difference between your cucumber seeds and daffodil seeds next year, but it’s surprisingly easy to get them all confused. 

Once you’ve placed your seeds into their respective storage containers, label them with the kind of seed they are and their collection dates. If you’re using seeds from a packet, use the “origination date,” but if you’ve harvested them yourself, the collection date is the day you picked or harvested them.

How long do seeds last in storage? Some can last between one and five years. Do your research and be sure to toss any that are well past their prime. 

5. Find a cool, dark, and dry storage area.

Warm temperatures and humidity are a lethal combination, as they create the perfect conditions for mold or mildew to grow. Instead, the best way to store seeds is in a cold, dark, dry location, away from direct sunlight, where you don’t need to worry about fluctuating temperatures that could negatively impact your seeds. Some common storage places include your basement, kitchen pantry, or fridge. 

6. Consider storing your seeds in the freezer.

If you’re looking for a long-term seed storage solution, place your air-tight containers in the freezer. This help will preserve them for longer periods—even years in some cases.

When you decide you’d like to take your seeds out from their storage spot in the freezer, don’t plant them right away. Instead, leave them on the kitchen counter for a few days to let them thaw out and acclimate to room temperature. 

7. Understand that there may be some duds.

No matter what lengths you go to preserve and store your seeds, not every seed will thrive when you plant it. Sometimes seeds simply don’t grow because of outside factors, while others may have a lower germination rate than others. In fact, it may take several tries to get the results you want, so be patient and don’t get discouraged if not all your seeds take off the first time. 

Find Out More About Stor-It

Stor-It is the oldest and largest storage facility in the Gem State, with more than 15 locations from Boise to McCall and beyond. We’re here to help you find a self-storage unit that best suits your needs. Furthermore, we’re the experts at all things storage, so we offer all the best self-storage tips. Need help storing perishables in your home? Or want advice on packing up your belongings for a big move? We’re here for you! Contact us today.