How to Correctly Store Seeds?

[cuffbertt]

Hello everyone

Last year I grew butternut squash as well as some Jalapenos and some Cayenne peppers. This year I'm growing those again, but now that I have my raised beds I'm doing loads more. I planted the seeds in compost and watered them 12 days ago, and so far I've had the following things germinate:

• Tomatoes - Gardeners Delight
• Tomatoes - Noire De Crimee
• Bell peppers
• Patty Pan squash
• Crown Prine squash
• Sweetcorn - Amaize I think??

The only things that haven't shown their heads yet are the Butternut squash, Jalapenos and Cayennes. I used the seeds from the packets I got last year, and the seeds have been stored in their paper packets in a dark cupboard in an brick outbuilding that's attached to the house, where it doesn't get cold enough to freeze inside.

The fact that the only things that haven't grown so far are the ones that I've used again for the second year, makes me think that I've somehow killed them by storing them incorrectly? Or maybe they just have shorter lives than their packets had me believe (I think they are all B&Q own brand).

I'm going to wait another couple of days until I get to the 14 day point, then they'll end up in the compost bin and I'll buy some fresh seeds. I'm curious what the proper way to store seeds is, especially over winter?

[veggiechicken]

Store seeds - cool, dry, dark, airtight (not paper) - somewhere with consistent temperatures.

FAQ: How long do vegetable seeds last? How to store them and how long they keep.

[nickdub]

Hello everyone

Last year I grew butternut squash as well as some Jalapenos and some Cayenne peppers. This year I'm growing those again, but now that I have my raised beds I'm doing loads more. I planted the seeds in compost and watered them 12 days ago, and so far I've had the following things germinate:

• Tomatoes - Gardeners Delight
• Tomatoes - Noire De Crimee
• Bell peppers
• Patty Pan squash
• Crown Prine squash
• Sweetcorn - Amaize I think??

The only things that haven't shown their heads yet are the Butternut squash, Jalapenos and Cayennes. I used the seeds from the packets I got last year, and the seeds have been stored in their paper packets in a dark cupboard in an brick outbuilding that's attached to the house, where it doesn't get cold enough to freeze inside.

The fact that the only things that haven't grown so far are the ones that I've used again for the second year, makes me think that I've somehow killed them by storing them incorrectly? Or maybe they just have shorter lives than their packets had me believe (I think they are all B&Q own brand).

I'm going to wait another couple of days until I get to the 14 day point, then they'll end up in the compost bin and I'll buy some fresh seeds. I'm curious what the proper way to store seeds is, especially over winter?

Sounds like you have stored them carefully, so I would have expected quite a bit of success for this year's sowing. I'm not sure how long chillis take to germinate, so I'll leave someone-else to comment on that, the other factor is how damp the seeds might have got. Dry is obviously best and some people I believe go to the trouble of putting silica gel sachets in with the seeds before they seal them in a container.

[bramble]

Hi Cuffbertt.
You didn't say where you sowed your seeds.
We're they sown inside or outside.
Did they have any heat or just normal temp.
Chilli need a high temp to germinate.

[SarrissUK]

I find butternut squash difficult to germinate, fresh seeds or not.

[cuffbertt]

Store seeds - cool, dry, dark, airtight (not paper) - somewhere with consistent temperatures.

FAQ: How long do vegetable seeds last? How to store them and how long they keep.

Thanks for the link, it's not something I'd seen before. I'll get some airtight pots to put them in for next year I think

Sounds like you have stored them carefully, so I would have expected quite a bit of success for this year's sowing. I'm not sure how long chillis take to germinate, so I'll leave someone-else to comment on that, the other factor is how damp the seeds might have got. Dry is obviously best and some people I believe go to the trouble of putting silica gel sachets in with the seeds before they seal them in a container.

Hmm maybe I'm just being unlucky then! I don't think the building is particularly damp, although some of the cardboard boxes recently have gone a bit soft. I'll have to start keeping hold of silica sachets to make sure they're dry for next year!

Hi Cuffbertt.
You didn't say where you sowed your seeds.
We're they sown inside or outside.
Did they have any heat or just normal temp.
Chilli need a high temp to germinate.

They're in small pots in the kitchen inside an unheated plastic propagator by the window. This weekend has been a bit warmer and the forecast for this week looks warm so maybe i'll have some luck!

I find butternut squash difficult to germinate, fresh seeds or not.

Ahh really, last year I planted two seeds and both of them germinated. They grey to be pretty big plants but I only got four small squashes the size of a fist from them in total.

[nickdub]

" I'll have to start keeping hold of silica sachets to make sure they're dry for next year! "

As you probably know, but for others reading this silica gel can be re-used by drying it in an electric oven set to its lowest setting for an hour or so.

[4Shoes]

know that "seedless" feeling well.
Did same sort of things as you have and had many failures this year (onions, shallots, Chilli, Marigolds, Herbs, list goes on)

Cleaning out box and trying to sort it out.

Report Card....

Could do Better

[Penellype]

Chillies and peppers are slow to germinate - I wouldn't be in a hurry to throw them out after only a fortnight. I've not grown butternut squash so I can't comment on those.