Storing seeds in new paint can

Keiththibodeaux · August 10, 2011

Pardon me if this has already been covered. Several years ago I bought a large seed collection from Baker Heirloom Seeds. The collection was sealed in an empty paint can with a couple of packs of silica gel inside. I put the can in the fridge and forgot about it. Severaly years later (yesterday) I opened it up, and sure enough the seeds, packs, etc. were in "as new" condition even after years of storage.

Is this a commonly accepted method of storing seeds for a a few years? Any drawbacks?

**carolyn137** · August 10, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keiththibodeaux

Pardon me if this has already been covered. Several years ago I bought a large seed collection from Baker Heirloom Seeds. The collection was sealed in an empty paint can with a couple of packs of silica gel inside. I put the can in the fridge and forgot about it. Severaly years later (yesterday) I opened it up, and sure enough the seeds, packs, etc. were in "as new" condition even after years of storage.

Is this a commonly accepted method of storing seeds for a a few years? Any drawbacks?

The seed packs may look new but it's the germination of the seeds in those packs that's important.

Some, like onions and leeks have low viability after a couple of years while others like squash and beans can last for many years without losing much viability.

I remember BC offering those seed collections as kind of a doomsday backup.

No, I don't know of anyone who stores seeds in new paint cans. But there are many threads here if you do a search about seed storage that might offer you some other suggstions.

Worth1 · August 10, 2011

Many people here store seeds in little bottles you can get on line from many places.

Another way to ensure viable seeds is to rotate the seeds from year to year.
You can do this yourself or trade with other folks here.

What I mean is you simply grow said seed collect the seeds from the fruit and trade last years seed you dont use to someone else.
This person in turn will reciprocate the offer and you keep having fresh seeds.

Or you can do as I do and have and ever growing box of seeds.

Worth

Keiththibodeaux · August 12, 2011

Happy to say that all seeds from the "paint can" germinated in 3 to 4 days. Absolute dark, well sealed with silica get inside, easily stored in my old fridge. At this point, it is a winner for me. Stored by season of use, I will only need to open it twice a year, once at the beginning of the season for planting, and once at the end of the season for new seed storage, and replace silica gel.

dice · August 20, 2011

Someone in the midwest that keeps them in an old refrigerator posted
on GW a few years back that keeping tomato seeds dry is good for five
years of storage life, keeping them refrigerated too is good for another
five years beyond that. Many seeds do better, depending on how healthy
the plant that grew them was, genetic factors, etc. (I sprouted a 10-year
old Lucky Cross seed that had only been kept dry, as far as I know. The
seedling survived.)

August 10, 2011	#1
Keiththibodeaux Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 587	Storing seeds in new paint can Pardon me if this has already been covered. Several years ago I bought a large seed collection from Baker Heirloom Seeds. The collection was sealed in an empty paint can with a couple of packs of silica gel inside. I put the can in the fridge and forgot about it. Severaly years later (yesterday) I opened it up, and sure enough the seeds, packs, etc. were in "as new" condition even after years of storage. Is this a commonly accepted method of storing seeds for a a few years? Any drawbacks?

August 20, 2011	#5
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	Someone in the midwest that keeps them in an old refrigerator posted on GW a few years back that keeping tomato seeds dry is good for five years of storage life, keeping them refrigerated too is good for another five years beyond that. Many seeds do better, depending on how healthy the plant that grew them was, genetic factors, etc. (I sprouted a 10-year old Lucky Cross seed that had only been kept dry, as far as I know. The seedling survived.) __________________ -- alias

August 10, 2011	#3
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Many people here store seeds in little bottles you can get on line from many places. Another way to ensure viable seeds is to rotate the seeds from year to year. You can do this yourself or trade with other folks here. What I mean is you simply grow said seed collect the seeds from the fruit and trade last years seed you dont use to someone else. This person in turn will reciprocate the offer and you keep having fresh seeds. Or you can do as I do and have and ever growing box of seeds. Worth

August 12, 2011	#4
Keiththibodeaux Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 587	Happy to say that all seeds from the "paint can" germinated in 3 to 4 days. Absolute dark, well sealed with silica get inside, easily stored in my old fridge. At this point, it is a winner for me. Stored by season of use, I will only need to open it twice a year, once at the beginning of the season for planting, and once at the end of the season for new seed storage, and replace silica gel.