Storing of garden seeds can be a big hassle for most people as not everybody knows how to store different kinds of seeds. The leftover seeds can be used effectively for the next year’s germination months but till then they need to be stored in such a way that they are not damaged in any way. The following are the 10 best ways to store garden seeds:
1. Irrespective of where you store your garden seeds, you must think of a dry and cool place. Warmth and moisture both can shorten the life of your seeds and make them ineffective.
2. When you are storing seed packets, store them in plastic film canisters or plastic food storage bags. You can also opt for any container that has an air tight lid to keep the seeds cool and dry.
3. If you are looking for the perfect storage place for your seeds, then the refrigerator is the best possible option.
4. Make sure that when you store your seeds in a refrigerator, then they are kept well away from the freezer section.
5. In order to keep the seeds dry, you can try to wrap up 2 tbsp. of powered form of milk in 4 layers of tissue. Then put this packet along with the packet of seeds in the storage container. You can also add a pack of silica gel along with the pack of seeds in the container. You must replace these additional packets at a time gap of 6 months.
6.  You must make it a habit to date the seeds by putting all seeds of one year together. This will help to create a distinction.
7. When you are ready to use the seeds and plant them, remove the seeds from the container and make sure they are kept closed till they come to the room temperature.
8. If the seeds you have gathered are from your own plants, then you must spread them out on a newspaper and let them dry for about a week. So that you don’t mix the seeds, name them or spread each batch on a different newspaper.
9. Dry the saved seeds on paper towels and when you are ready to plant them tear off the bits on the towel, by taking one seed at a time.
10. Even after following all these steps, some seeds won’t germinate the next year and this is a hard to accept fact.
Photo Credit By:Â igrow.org
