Long term seed storage

[ThaliaGreen]

Hello friends, so when I decide to start a new hobby, I tend to go a bit overboard, it's actually a huge problem. Anyways, I've found myself in a situation where I have more seeds than I'll probably be able to grow in a reasonable time frame, and I was wondering how everyone is storing theirs?
I found a YouTube video with some guy going over a scientific study that said that storing seeds at -20 degrees C is the best for long term storage, but then I've read other pages that say if the moisture level of a seed is too high, freezing will form ice crystals and kill the seed. Obviously I can't tell how much moisture is in my seed so what does everyone here do? Fridge, freezer, neither?

Thanks!

 

[Sticky67]

I think it really depends on where you are, as in your environment but for me being in sticking hot and humid FNQ it's into an old pill container and in the fridge. I can't even use glass in the fridge bcoz of the humidity, it fogs up the glass as soon as it hits the outside air..you can put rice grains into the container if you're worried about moisture..

 

[Gazza]

I keep all my seeds in a dark container in the fridge, good for long term storage and helping keep my beers ice cold.

 

[afghan bob]

Yup anything dark and airtight stored in crisper section of fridge seems 2 do the job
Had seeds still germ after 5 yrs this way

 

[ThaliaGreen]

Oh I forgot part two of my question. Should they be stored with desiccant or without? Again opinions seem to be mixed. Some people say it’s good to keep the moisture down, others say it can dry them out too much and kill them.

Researching on the internet can be so confusing.

Thanks for your replies. Looks like the fridge is the winner.

 

[Sedge]

Oh I forgot part two of my question. Should they be stored with desiccant or without? Again opinions seem to be mixed. Some people say it’s good to keep the moisture down, others say it can dry them out too much and kill them.

Researching on the internet can be so confusing.

Thanks for your replies. Looks like the fridge is the winner.

I’ve received seeds with granules of dessicant but taken it out for long term storage ,,,just out of the same concern for it drying them out too much ,,,maybe undue concern as I don’t know the answer to whether it does ,,I use a few grains of rice ,but only in the container I use for baggies etc but not in with the seeds.

 

[Carbcon]

What strains did you get?

 

[surferboy47]

i put my seeds in containers ,leave in the breeders sealed packs in the vegetable drawer of fridge with a little white rice and a desiccant sachel.
have seeds going on 20 years old and while not 100 percent sprouting rate ,aint far off it

 

[ThaliaGreen]

i put my seeds in containers ,leave in the breeders sealed packs in the vegetable drawer of fridge with a little white rice and a desiccant sachel.
have seeds going on 20 years old and while not 100 percent sprouting rate ,aint far off it

The rice and desiccant is in the fridge drawer with the packs, not inside the packs themselves?

 

[ThaliaGreen]

What strains did you get?

It's a long list, I think I currently have like 18 strains from 4 different breeders.

 

[itchybro]

maybe look hp how they store seeds at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault

i think the vault temps are high teens ( 17 , 18 , 19 c ) & low humidity ( below 30% ) , can't remember what seed container they are stored in though while in the vault

otherwise you would think the seed vault mentioned above should have there finger on the pulse of the latest science of long term seed storage

 

[Sticky67]

I’ve received seeds with granules of dessicant but taken it out for long term storage ,,,just out of the same concern for it drying them out too much ,,,maybe undue concern as I don’t know the answer to whether it does ,,I use a few grains of rice ,but only in the container I use for baggies etc but not in with the seeds.

Shit and I thought that's why they put those little crystal things in there, for safe storage..I just leave them as they send em, thinking they should know better than me

 

[ThaliaGreen]

maybe look hp how they store seeds at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault

i think the vault temps are high teens ( 17 , 18 , 19 c ) & low humidity ( below 30% ) , can't remember what seed container they are stored in though while in the vault

otherwise you would think the seed vault mentioned above should have there finger on the pulse of the latest science of long term seed storage

From their website:

A temperature of −18°C is required for optimal storage of the seeds. Permafrost and thick rock ensure that the seed samples will remain frozen even without power. The seeds are sealed in custom-made three-ply foil packages, which are sealed inside boxes and stored on shelves inside the Seed Vault. The low temperature and moisture levels inside the Seed Vault ensure low metabolic activity, keeping the seeds viable for long periods of time.

 

[jezza03]

The international world seed bank which houses hundreds of thousands of various seeds from every country in the world, which is in Norway, is a constant -18 degrees Celsius ..,
Jez

 

[Aye Shroomer]

Mine are in sappy bags in a stubby holder in the fridge. The door compartment that can close where you keep butter etc.