You can find good, cheap containers for storing seeds around your house, including old prescription bottles, glass jars with screw-on lids, and plastic film canisters. These containers all protect from outside moisture and pests. If you have some very small packets of seeds, label and store them within a larger container. Seeds must be kept dry and cool, otherwise they rot or sprout. Humidity of less than 60 percent, and temperatures between 32°F and 41°F are ideal. Add a packet of desiccant powder (such as silica gel) or powdered milk, to combat high humidity. The gel absorbs best. Under good conditions, many types of seed will remain viable for years. The longer you store seeds, the less viable and vigorous they will be. The following table lists some common seeds and their storage life expectancies. Commercially packed seed may store longer than home-grown.
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When storing seeds with Silica Gel, it is best to use fresh packets. Avoid using Silica Gel that turns from blue to pink as this contains Cobalt Chloride which is considered to be a carcinogenic substance. Silica Gel that turns fro orange to green is non-toxic and safe to use. www.slilicagelpackets.com carry a wide variety of Silica Gel products, including packets that are ideal for storing with seeds.
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