Sonny, how do you keep your seeds

[smigelski]

How do you keep your seeds from mildewing. It seems every year I will get 1 batch or 2 that mildew.I store mine in glass and plastic jars. What am I doing wrong. I make sure I dry them pretty well.

[beaconlight]

they only mildow when too wet

[SONNY]

I have found that they need to be REALLY dry!---I had some that felt dry, but weren't!----It takes quite a while to get them down to safe levels.---after harvesting desired amount,--I spread them out on the front room table, (visitors make strange remarks about it but we live with it!), on paper towels and stir them every day to start with so they dont sprout on the towel.---after they make a hollow sound we put them in small soil sample bags( the wax coated paper kind) and leave the tops open.--also mix in a little sevin powder to keep the bugs out and set them on the back corner of the small counter in the kitchen or on top of the christmas tree box,(we keep our tree in a box and assembled year round, just open door and drag out the plug and plug-it-in!)
This keeps the seed up and warm/dry for the rest of the year. I have experimented with other methods and this works for us.---Mom used to put seed into jars, but never tightened the lids down and hers always kept!

Some say to heat the seed in the oven at 300 degrees for 30 mins.---Don't think I would recommend that as it could kill the germ!---we never tried doing the oven thing on seed!
thanks; sonny

[smigelski]

I think I need to go with a different method of storage, I realized that my jars are in the garage and condensate a little with the temperature change from when the heat is on or day vs night.

[Billy Fussell]

Not trying to hijack the thread cause it wasn't addressed to me, but we put the dry seed either paper sacks or zip lock freezer bags, label them, and put in the freezer. Then when you get ready to plant, the seed will have sweated a little after removing from freezer, and it gives them a little moisture to get started on. I have not noticed any damage to the seed when used in my planter. Just another method.

Billy

[smigelski]

that is not hijacking. thanks for the input. when looking at saving over a $1000 in seed cost any input is good input

[SONNY]

Billy!!! Jump right in here and add input!!!---any other folks out there have a favorite method that they use,--please post your ideas too!!!! thanks; sonny

[Super A]

Not trying to hijack the thread cause it wasn't addressed to me, but we put the dry seed either paper sacks or zip lock freezer bags, label them, and put in the freezer. Then when you get ready to plant, the seed will have sweated a little after removing from freezer, and it gives them a little moisture to get started on. I have not noticed any damage to the seed when used in my planter. Just another method.

Billy

A fridge or freezer is one of the most useful tools a gardener can have for seed storage/prep. IF you have leftover seed or save your own, you can store them, many for indefinate periods of time, in the freezer. It also keeps critters (mice, insects) from getting into them if you stored them in a shed or somewhere.

Al

[smigelski]

about what temperature should the freezer be kept at?

[Super A]

about what temperature should the freezer be kept at?

Freezing.

But seriously, whatever the freezer is set at for your groceries.

I order all my spring seeds for school--around $300 worth which will fit in a single box about the size of a Cub voltage regulator, flower seed is EXPENSIVE--in the fall and store them in my little fridge at school until they are ready to use. I have some collard, cabbage, and other veggie seed that was three years old or more when I planted it last and they did fine. Keeping them cold will add a long time to their viability.

Al

[smigelski]

guess I load all my seed up and take over to the farm, I have a fridge and freezer there for cold storage. I'll have to slide bambi over for some seed.