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  • From: "Lynda" <lurine AT softcom.net>
  • To: <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Storing & Saving seed
  • Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:45:35 -0800

If you opt for canning jars and want to do possible long term storage, get a Food Saver with the jar sealer attachment.

Lynda
----- Original Message ----- From: "Gene GeRue" <genegerue AT ruralize.com>

Okay, one more time: buy a copy of Seed To Seed. It has everything
about the subject in it.

But since I love you, I will one last time type a quote:

AIRTIGHT STORAGE CONTAINERS
Vegetable seeds are at their peak when hey reach maximum dry weight
on the mother plant. Vigor is the seed's ability to germinate rapidly
with good disease resistance. Home-saved seeds will retain maximum
vigor when thoroughly dried and stored in a moisture-proof container.
The most vigorous seeds at harvest time will keep the longest in
storage. The two greatest enemies of stored seeds are high temperature
and high moisture. Seeds that are stored at fluctuating temperature
and moisture levels lose their ability to germinate very quickly. As a
rule of thumb, the sum of the temperature (degrees F.) an relative
humidity should not exceed 100. In actuality, humidity is probably
more important than temperature, because it allow for the growth of
microorganisms which degrade seed quality. Always realize that seed
vigor can be lost during storage well before the seed dies completely.
Containers used for seed storage should always be airtight. Glass
and metal are the only common materials that are completely moisture-
proof. Glass jars with good rubber seals under their lids, such as
baby food jars or canning jars with new lids, provide a nearly
airtight seal when screwed on really tight. Gallon glass jars that do
not have a common-sized canning lid can be modified into excellent
storage containers by cutting gaskets for their lids out of used
automobile inner tubes.
Lightweight plastic bags are not moisture-proof and make poor
storage containers. However, seeds can be put into Self Seal T-Bags,
Seal-A-Meal bags, Zip Lock bags, small drawstring muslin bags, or
paper envelopes, before being stored inside of a large, airtight jar.
Each bag of seeds should be securely sealed and carefully labeled. The
jar should then be stored in a cool, dry, dark place where the
temperature fluctuates as little as possible. Locations at floor level
are better than those near the ceiling, which can be be significantly
warmer. The constant cool temperature of an under ground root cellar
is excellent, for those lucky enough to have access to such a
structure. . . . ."

She then goes on for a couple pages about LONG-TERM FROZEN STORAGE and
then OVERWINTERING BIENNIAL PLANTS and more.


Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable
Gardeners (Paperback)
by Suzanne Ashworth (Author), Kent Whealy (Author)
(24 customer reviews)
List Price: $24.95
Price: $16.47 & eligible for free shipping with Amazon Prime
You Save: $8.48 (34%)
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

23 used & new available from $16.46

24 Reviews
5 star: (15)
4 star: (8)
3 star: (0)
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Average Customer Review
(24 customer reviews)




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Most Helpful Customer Reviews


184 of 192 people found the following review helpful:
Save 'em or lose 'em., January 12, 2000
By GENE GERUE "Author, Find Your Ideal Country Home" (Zanoni, MO USA)
- See all my reviews

This review is from: Seed to Seed (Paperback)
Sixty million American gardeners buy their seeds from mail order seed
companies. In the period 1984-1987, 54 of the 230 seed companies in
the U.S. and Canada went out of business, resulting in 943 non-hybrid
varieties becoming unavailable. One answer to the extinction of food
crop varieties is Seed Savers Exchange, the publisher of Seed to Seed.
Begun in 1975, SSE maintains more than 18,000 rare vegetable varieties
at Heritage Farm in Decorah, Iowa. Another answer is for individual
gardeners to save their own seed from non-hybrid varieties. Varieties
that grow and taste exceptionally well in specific areas can be
planted year after year from home-grown seed. A further advantage is
protection from seed price increases. Ashworth provides definitive
information on seed gathering, processing and storage techniques.
Twenty family entries include taxonomy, pollination characteristics
and techniques, general production and processing techniques. Each of
the 160 species entries includes botanical classification;
pollination, crossing, and isolation; seed production, harvest and
processing; seed viability. Ample black-and-white photographs
complement the text. Hybrid seeds are in the control of large
companies. You can be in control of heirloom varieties that do best in
your garden. Happy eating.
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