Seed storing
Moisture and heat are
the main enemies of seed--strong sunlight is inadvisable, too.
Ideally, seed should
be stored in airtight, well-sealed containers, either glass or
plastic. I use leftover prescription-drug bottles, which aren't
completely airtight. Coin envelopes are handy, too, but they aren't
airtight either and are inconvenient to re-open and close. Plastic
bags are offer visibility but can be punctured easily. Since it's
hard to write on a plastic bag, I write on a post-it and insert
it in the bag. I've also read that you can use tea bag wrappers--not
the way I unwrap a tea bag--or relabel commercial seed packets.
Some veterans use a
desiccant like silica gel packets (available at many craft stores)
to absorb excess moisture in stored seed if air is above 30% or
so relative humidity. This is too much trouble for me. If I have
the tiny silica cylinders that come with vitamins I'll use them
or nothing. You could also use a few grains of uncooked rice.
As a precaution against
insect infestation, one authority recommends adding a little diatomaceous
earth to the seeds before storage. Add just enough to cover the
surfaces of the seeds. I haven't had any trouble with insects
but it's nice to know a non-toxic solution.
Be certain to mark
any containers with basic information about the seeds: species,
and when and where it was collected. The fewer "mystery" seeds
you end up with the better. If you do, Sharon's Little Garden
has great photos of the seeds of common plants.
In the past, I stored
my seeds in the basement. It kept the seeds between 50ºF and 60ºF
in the winter, which apparently was good enough for short-term
storage. Temperatures around 40ºF are usually what's recommended
for maintaining long-term seed viability, which makes a refrigerator
the ideal storage facility--assuming, of course, you have room.
One caveat I came across:
If you store seeds in a refrigerator, do not to keep them in the
same compartment with fruits and vegetables. Some fruits (apples,
for example) give off a chemical as they ripen that will inhibit
the germination of many species of seed.
If seeds sweat on insides
of jars during storage, they are too wet and must be dried further.
Be sure to use a desiccant when you're ready to bottle them up
again.
Seed swapping
This age-old practice
has taken on new life on the Internet. I came across a variety
of sites. Some were personal sites or community sites that are
free, web sites of membership organizations like Seeds of Texas
Seed Exchange or private enterprises with a mission like Southern
Exposure Seed. Seeds of Texas charges a $20 yearly membership
fee. Southern Exposure Seed Exchange sells seed of open-pollinated,
heirloom varieties, and traditional flowers and vegetables produced
with organic and sustainable methods.
Traders on personal
and community sites use a lot of common names, so you don't always
know which plant is meant. Some sites were searchable by plant
name or zone, a real plus.
Here are some of the
free major sites I came across and my comments:
Garden Web.
Links you to a variety of its sites for exchanging seeds, plants,
herbs, aquatics, regional plants (FL, CA, etc.), books, European
gardeners, etc. Searchable by plant. (http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/exchind/)
Gardens DFW Big
Garden Site allows users to post their needs; hard to read
and not searchable (http://www.he.net/~grdnsdfw/postings.htm)
The Seed Exchange.
Free members-only network that's suppose to send you info via
e-mail once you register your "haves" and "wants"; definitely
ambitious: "Our Goal is to be the most extensive Seed Exchange
Network in the World!" http://members.tripod.com/dmford/newsletter/seedexch.html
The Gardeners' Exchange.
Limited listings; small type is hard to read; not searchable http://hometown.aol.com/andyinc367/seedswap/exchange.html
Nature Node Seed
Exchange. This site is a work in progress; limited number
of listings but searchable by hardiness zone http://www.naturenode.com/seeds/seeds_people.html
The Seed Swap Circle.
Searchable with all queries readable; hosted by http://www.exoticplants.org.uk
(http://www.seeds.ca.tc/)
Personal sites tend
to be limited since they represent what one person has to trade
or wants. One stands out:
The Total Gardener:
(http://www.homestead.com/thetotalgardeners/thetotalgardener.html).
It features a bulletin board with "good trades" and "bad trades."
That's where you can share experiences about trades you've made.
It also has an interesting assortment of links to other personal
and business sites.
Other sites mentioned
in Linda's article:
Seeds of Texas Seed
Exchange: http://csf.colorado.edu/perma/stse/intro.htm
Sharon's Little
Garden: http://www.sharonslittlegarden.homestead.com/Gallery.html
Southern Exposure
Seed: http://www.southernexposure.com/
If you have other sources
to recommend or questions to ask about seed saving and exchanging,
email Linda.
Linda
Coyner is a gardener/journalist who planted her first seed in
New York soil. She trained as a landscape designer at the New
York Botanical Garden and was a tour guide at its Enid A. Haupt
Conservatory. She recently said good-bye to her garden in Chappaqua,
New York, and a full-time job in book and magazine publishing.
These days Linda lives in Naples, Florida, where she's a
Florida Certified Nursery Professional and delighted to be gardening
year-round as well as writing about plants and flowers.
Linda can be reached by email
.
