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Location

Message

Date Posted

Long Beach, CA

Is it OK to store seeds by putting them in a jar with dessicant powder to dry them out, and them freezing them? I'd expect the dessicant to lower the humidity to close to 0%; will this harm the seed? I'd hate to ruin all my seeds through a stupid mistake.

Thanks,
Oliver

5/13/2005 8:53:25 PM

Canada

Last year I kept seeds in freezer, seeds were hard to germinate this year all my seeds were dried well placed in baggies and kept in the dark cool basement. my germination this year has been awsome

Dave

Dark and cool seems to work best, freezing well some say it works great others will differ.

5/14/2005 4:11:46 AM

Oz

IF TOO MUCH WATER IS IN THE SEED,
IT WILL EXPAND WHILE FREEZING,,AND DO CELL DAMAGE

ALHOUGH,,,FREZZING MIGHT BE THE BEST LONG TERM STORAGE.
THE CONTAINER WOULD BEST BE A THERMOS BOTTLE.
YOU WANT TO FREEZE THEM SLOW,,,NOT SUCK THE HEAT OUT AT A "BURNING" RATE.

5/14/2005 10:49:27 AM

Grandfield Oklahoma

paul james say to put them in a baggie with some rice to absorb the moisture,and thats all you need

5/14/2005 3:39:02 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

Steve Daletas keeps his in the fridge. I did that this year and had much quicker and better germination vs keeping them in the freezer.

5/14/2005 4:47:18 PM

Garden

I kept mine in an air tight container, with 2 dessicant pouches. Had a terrible time germinating this year. I do think they got too dry.

5/14/2005 4:48:58 PM

Joliet, IL

my old house with radiators for heat gets way to dry
in the winter for my liking. so i started freezing them
last year in multiple ziplock baggies, about 3 or 4.
went 10 for 10 on practice round and 16 for 16 on
my main round this year so my initial concerns about
freezing were eliminated.

5/14/2005 10:14:25 PM

Long Beach, CA

What I think I'll do is keep most of my seeds as they are (in the fridge) and experiment with freezing a few, then comparing germination rates. I'd rather be cautious with this...

Oliver

5/15/2005 2:27:45 PM