Notes on Seed Storage

Most seeds will store for 2-4 years if kept clean, cool, dry, and out of light. However, some seeds will badly deteriorate after about one year if not stored in an airtight container in the freezer or refrigrerator. These include: onions, leeks, parsnips, celery, spinach, salsify, and hybrid supersweet corn.

For long-term storage, place seed packets in a large, airtight container (such as Tupperware or a mason jar with a 2-piece lid) and store in the refrigerator or freezer.  It's very important that the container be airtight to prevent moisture from getting onto your seeds. We stretch parafilm around jar rims to ensure a tight seal, but you could also use ziploc bags as extra security - inside or outside your container. Remember to let the container come to room temperature before opening it, or else moisture will condense on the cold seeds, possibly leading to mold or rot.

Freshly harvested seeds need to dry for several weeks before being stored. Especially when freezing seeds, it is crucial that the moisture content of the seeds is very low. To speed the drying process, you can hang your seeds in mesh bags in front of a fan or (carefully!) use a food dehydrator set on low.

<< Pictured, a seed grower's custom built rack for drying small batches of seeds using box fans.