Storage is important because it also affects the viability of your seeds.
Vegetable and flower seeds haveguidelinesfor how long theyre viable.
You’ll want to sort your seeds and verify youre clearing out those past their expiration dates.
While its not a foregone conclusion that older seeds wont germinate, its a definite possiblity.
Increasingly, I’m seeing seed companies ship seeds in foil-lined packages for this reason.
Seed packets are roughly the same size as photo prints, and one container holds many 4x6 airtight subcontainers.
Theyre kept away from air exposure, and the light is blocked by the outside container.
Cons:Your organization is limited to these 16 subcontainers.
If you have a 17th category, you need another box.
Also, if your tomato seeds dont fit into one subcontainer, you have to overflow to a second.
Personally, I find these cumbersome for just thumbing through your seeds.
Pros:They are largely expandable and easy to reorganize by inserting new pages just where you need them.
Its easy to access your seeds and flip through to find what you need.
A solid colored binder to contain all of the pages would keep most light out.
Some pages become bulky due to seed packets.
The case feels safe and durable.
), this isnt a great solution.
Storage system option #4: storage boxes
Me?
I keep things simple.
TheseArtBinsare light, easy to organize within, and come with dividers.
The handles mean I can grab and go, and they stack.
I keep seeds stored inlight-safe, lined envelopes.
Cons:Theyre not light-safe unless youre using those light-safe envelopes.
They belong in the ground, not in your personal library.
Combine seed packets if you have multiples, and confirm all envelopes are well-sealed.
Here’s what else I’m looking for.
Are the seeds still viable?
For instance, alliums (onions) are just viable for one year.
Did you like the seeds?
If I love the varietygreat, I keep the seeds.
What do I need/not need?
The crucial part of this process is to remember that the presence of an envelope doesn’t mean much.
There might be two seeds insideyou want to actually count them.
Log your findings in yourgarden journal for when it’s time to order.
