Seed storage a wise practice for gardeners
Open your favorite seed catalog and you might see a cryptic "sold out," "crop failure" or similar message letting you know your favorite flower or vegetable cultivar is not available.
This is not new, but over the past couple of years the resurgent popularity of home gardening has made seed supplies dwindle.
In my career, I have never seen so many seeds in such short supply.
Seeds are not manufactured or discovered — they are harvested from growing plants.
Harvesting a crop of seeds from corn, tomatoes, squash and other annuals takes one year. With carrots, beets, cabbage, cauliflower and other biennials, it takes two years.
That means taking care of a seed shortage is not instantaneous. It takes at least one season — and possibly several seasons — of good production to rebuild seed supplies.
If weather, pests or other maladies destroy the plants, the process starts all over again.
Putting something away for the future is good advice. We are wisely counseled to save money as well as store food. Adding garden seeds to the mix is equally valuable advice.
I am not predicting a panic, but having some seeds on hand makes good sense if you are a gardener.
A seed is a living organism. It has a finite life. It does no good to buy large amounts of seeds and sit them on a garage shelf.
I hear and read advertisements that claim that the seeds you buy from a certain company will be worth more than gold — or be one of the best investments you can make. Seeds will help you grow a good garden, but they are not going to make you rich when you sell them in the future.
Since seed is not an "investment," choose seed for the vegetables you like. If okra is high on your "yuk" list, don't waste your time and money storing it. Select the favorite kinds and cultivars and purchase a reasonable quantity (one or two gardening seasons) to store.
Last year, I visited a seed depository. Seeds were stored in underground vaults under cryogenic conditions that might keep them alive for 200 or more years.
Your timeline is much shorter.
For most vegetables, plan on rotating the seeds every second or third year, although many vegetable seeds will keep for 10 years or more under proper conditions.
To keep seed until next season, you need not worry much about storage condition. Keep it in a cool, dry place and it will be just fine.
For a longer storage life, use these precautions.
Moisture and storage temperatures are the most important factors in determining storage life.
Most seeds store best at less than 8 percent moisture. To achieve this, dry the seeds at 100 degrees F for six hours.
Spread out harvested seeds on a on a very hot summer day to dry it, or put it in a conventional oven with the door open. Never dry seed in a microwave.
Once the seeds are properly dried, package them in moisture-proof containers such as canning jars, sealed cans or very tight-fitting plastic containers.
If you are unsure if your container is suitable, submerge it in water. If it leaks, get a different type. Silica gel packets also absorb moisture.
Next, address the temperature. Storing seed in a refrigerator or a deep freeze extends its storage life.
If refrigeration is inconvenient, choose a cool basement or a cellar.
Other more sophisticated techniques involve reducing the oxygen supply to the seed. According to information from Colorado State University, the above mentioned factors are the most critical.
When seed moisture and storage temperatures are low, oxygen content has not been shown to be a factor in seed longevity. Germination is not affected by storing seeds in nitrogen or carbon dioxide gas or by partial vacuum or air.
You can buy nitrogen-packed seeds or oxygen-absorbing packets for storage. These may help reduce seed respiration and extend the life of the seed if you cannot keep the seeds cool and dry.
Purchase your seeds from your favorite garden center early to avoid disappointment. Include some with your regular storage for provident living.
I have never seen seeds that remain stored on a shelf all year produce any kind of garden. Plant the seeds so you can enjoy the fruits and vegetables of your labors. Growing, not storing, seed makes a good garden.
Larry A. Sagers is a horticulture specialist for the Utah State University Extension Service at Thanksgiving Point.
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