Long Term Seed Storage (+5 years)

[seymore_budz]

Hey GR420,

So I've built up quite a collection of seeds now and I've been storing them in the fridge. This seems to work OK as the seeds have been germinating months later but I'm not sure if this is the best approach for long term storage. My little fridge died over Christmas so I grabbed a new one and was planning on improving things a little.

My little old second hand fridge died over Xmas so I've bought myself a nice new drinks cooler and I'm now looking at removing the seeds from the original packaging and placing them in vials and using a little jewelry box to organise them all.

I suppose the aim of this post is to reach out to the community and ask do you think this is the correct approach?

I went for a drinks cooler as they don't have any fancy crap on them to stop things freezing etc. I've read some of these mechanisms can cause fluctuations in temperature that could upset things.

Would you say 0C is cold enough/too cold?

Being cold moisture levels should be low but would you add a few silica gel packets for extra protection or is this going too far?

Thanks for reading guys Any tips or pointers are much appreciated.

[Captain Beefheart]

airtight container in the freezer as cold as ewe run it . 20 years time they still be viable.

[Sage]

I keep mine in a drawer in the fridge. I put a few grains of uncooked rice in with the seeds in each vial or in my case these tiny ziplock bags for pills with all the air squeezed out. Then a few silica packs in the main light proof container that the individual bags go in. When you take them out give them some time at room temp before germinating your rates will go down just a touch. If rates suffer too much put in a jar with water and put in freezer just till the thinnest of ice starts to form then treat as normal. That is supposed to simulate a deep hibernation and awakening of the seed. This has worked well for me for years.

[Captain Beefheart]

cmon ive seen them on telly freezing seeds at minus 24 ffs

[Captain Beefheart]

colder the better imho.

[Sage]

so long as internal seed moisture is low enough otherwise cell damage, not arguing against it I've always done it this way and it's served me well

[seymore_budz]

I've read some seeds will freeze well where others don't? Not sure where cannabis seeds sit on the spectrum though?

What put me off freezing is as far as I understand it you need to know what the moisture content is. If it's too high then you can damage the seed. I have no way of telling what the moisture content is when I buy a seed. They could be stored correctly at the supplier of they could be just on a shelf somewhere burning food.

[JJ]

Sounds right by me,deep freezing other fruits,which r big seeds won't work,,,? Bigger cell tissue breaking down

[JJ]

Flower bulbs??????

[Wayne36]

Hmm so is freezing or pit in a fridge actually recommend? I never new thus I thought they just be ok in there packaging in a cool dry place. I mean I could vacuum seal them aswell to right maybe even last longer no ?