Homestead mailing list

[tonitime AT juno.com]

Hi Bev,
   I'm an avid seed saver, and if stored tightly and cool - seed can last
a surprisingly long time.  This sure varies with what type crop you have.
 I can't access my files for a few days, but do have a few good charts to
give seed viability rates for many things.  Those of us that collect
heirloom bean seed from the elders in our rural areas know that often an
old mason jar of bean seed can be found after an elder loved one passes
on (and they've had no garden for another 20 yrs.).  It germinates often,
and we have saved another bit of deliciousness from disappearing in time!
 If you have any old allium seed, i'd toss them in the compost.....they
are viable a year or few at best.  Peppers and tomatoes good to go thru a
germination test, and beans are probably good to go ( if all were dry
during this time).  Life seems to cling to seed longer than i expect! 
Makes it hard to clean out and toss the elders in my seed library :)  If
you are just going to grow a few of some things, it often doesn't matter
if the germination rate is low - toss then all in place and see whatcha
get, and save more seed from that for fresh stock.
     For bulk seed storage:
    Since i save and send great amounts of seed around, i use heavy
gallon ziplocks with lables.  Double, if i need to for huge amounts to
keep safely dry ( if one zipper fails).  If the seed is more rare or
traveling thru a wet area, i may put a desicant pack into the
ziplock........more of friend's receycling donations from shoe purchases
( it's amazing how many shoes some town women buy!!).  Canning jars work,
if they do not have to travel, or be put into the freezer.

      Except for tree seed, i take most of my thoroughly-dried and
packaged seed into a chest freezer for at least a few days to kill off
pests or their eggs.

Time to go and organize :)
Toni