Seed Packet Storage

Nicola 5/27/2012, 10:44 am

Who here has a neat, organized way of storing their seed packets? Ours started out all being tossed into a gallon-sized clear kitchen zip bag the first year, and is now, with more jumbled into a large manila envelope. So every time I want to plant something, or just look through them, I pretty much have to dump out the whole mess onto the table, sort through them, then shove 'em all back in when I'm done.
I'm thinking maybe something re-purposed to make a sort of mini file cabinet for seeds

memart1 5/27/2012, 10:57 am

I am using a paper clip over a folded edge to close the packet, then I put them in a 4" x 6" file box in alphabetical order. I am sure a small shoe box would work well also. Get a plastic one at the Dollar Tree for $1.

Nicola 5/27/2012, 11:27 am

memart1 wrote:I am using a paper clip over a folded edge to close the packet, then I put them in a 4" x 6" file box in alphabetical order...

But don't they slip around? Most seed packets seem to be smaller than that, I thought.

memart1 5/27/2012, 11:37 am

A 4" x 6" box is what I had readily available, but you could probably use a 3" x 5" file box. I have a lot of seeds that were given to me when a gardener friend passed away last spring.

JustMe 5/27/2012, 2:22 pm

I use a kid's shoe box to alphabetize my seeds. I also keep a sharpie and some garden labels in there (for me it's plastic forks, knives), so I can take the entire box to the garden with me.

Lindacol 5/27/2012, 2:34 pm

Here is a thread from a few months back that has lots of great ideas:

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t9882-organizing-your-seed-packets

quiltbea 5/27/2012, 3:10 pm

I know they should be kept in the refrigerator according to Mel's monthly tips, so I keep mine in the crispers.

I start with quart or half-gallon bags (depending on how many packets I have) and label them all separately; spring seed starting .... spring and fall direct sowing.... summer direct sowing ....flowers.... herbs, greens and lettuce....beans and peas....etc. The seed packets go inside these baggies with a desiccant pack (made from dried milk) in alphabetical order with a rubber band around them according to thickness. Since I have many types of tomatoes and peppers and also save seeds, I keep those in separate baggies; one marked determinate tomatoes and another indeterminate tomatoes and one marked peppers.

When I'm starting my own seeds in soil blocks or sowing seeds in the beds, I just have to take out the pertinent baggie or two. Works for me.

tabletopper 5/27/2012, 9:55 pm

I have a lot of seeds and I found at Walmart some plastic boxes with rubber seal with a lock down handle....for $5 plus.....I have 4 of these and packets stand upright.....and alphabetical......I keep the boxes at the rear of 2 shelves in fridge....out of the way......this $21 investment will last me many years.......this works for me....I love it.....Ruth

Coelli 5/27/2012, 11:57 pm

I found an airtight plastic box with lock-down handles, and have the packets standing upright inside it. I'm storing it in the fridge (37 degrees and totally dark unless it's opened). I threw one of these dessicant tins on top of the packets: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018O035O/ref=cm_sw_su_dp.

I do need to go through and get them in some sort of order, but maybe once I figure out the rest of this gardening thing. Wink

I just ordered more seeds from Baker Creek too... holy smokes, I have enough seeds to feed two armies if I just had the space to plant them all!

floyd1440 5/28/2012, 3:39 am

Well I found these small CD cases at Office Depot. What is nice about them is they have individual hanging folders which I put the seeds packets in in alphebetical order, or if you want planting oreder, to keep them seperate and easily accesible.

That Walmart container does it have a blue top and a grey handle or is this a different one?

Shocked

tabletopper 5/28/2012, 4:09 am

At Walmart its in the kitchen plastics dept......its all clear heavy duty plastic...with a rubber seal....I think the paper company liner that comes out said Home and Gardens...on it.. it also comes in a taller size.....but the size I bought is just right for packs of seeds......Ruth

BertieFox 5/28/2012, 7:53 am

I'm concerned about those saying storing seed packets in air tight plastic boxes is a good idea. If they are totally dry and the box is sealed in a very dry atmosphere, maybe, but otherwise any moisture will be trapped inside and will rot the seed or encourage the growth of moulds. If you must use plastic boxes, put some dry silica gel with them.

Coelli 5/28/2012, 3:04 pm

BertieFox wrote:I'm concerned about those saying storing seed packets in air tight plastic boxes is a good idea. If they are totally dry and the box is sealed in a very dry atmosphere, maybe, but otherwise any moisture will be trapped inside and will rot the seed or encourage the growth of moulds. If you must use plastic boxes, put some dry silica gel with them.

Totally agree - refrigerators do tend to be dry on their own (along with cold, which is good) but a dessicant is a good idea. (I'm not affiliated with the vendor/product I linked earlier - that's just what I happened to use.)

floyd1440 5/28/2012, 6:18 pm

tabletopper wrote:At Walmart its in the kitchen plastics dept......its all clear heavy duty plastic...with a rubber seal....I think the paper company liner that comes out said Home and Gardens...on it.. it also comes in a taller size.....but the size I bought is just right for packs of seeds......Ruth

I will have to check them out...do you just lay the seed packets down or do they stand up on there own?

tabletopper 5/28/2012, 8:00 pm

Floyd 1440....I think you found it at Walmart....the rubber seal is dark blue......on the bottom is ID.s Better Homes & Gardens....product ...the size is:

4 3/4 W x 7 1/4 H x 4 3/4 D.......with strong clear plastic handle to tighten lid down........7 1/4 in high .......just right to file alphabetical seed packets...in upright position...I use the lil packet that absorbs moisture that comes in a medicine btl inside.......I than put them in the fridge.....to the rear...on the shelves out of the way....of other items ....I love the system.....Ruth

floyd1440 5/28/2012, 8:17 pm

Ruth

That is good to know. My wife just got a couple containers from Walmart but they don't sound like the one you discribe.

They are clear but have a gray handle and two gray sides which keep it shut nicely. I was hoping to put my CD box inside it but it doesn't fit and she doesn't remeber if it had a Home and Garden label on the bottom

Last year I only had one package and put them in a mason jar with one of those packets and I got 100% germination with my tomato seeds...

**rowena___.** 5/29/2012, 11:05 am

i used to keep mine in plastic food containers from chinese take out, back when i was still working and thus had the luxury of eating out. Smile

now i keep them sorted into ziplock bags, in the bottom drawer of the fridge which is clearly labeled "SEEDS FOR PLANTING", so as to keep family members from rummaging it. Smile

each bag is labeled according to plant family and the seed packets are sorted accordingly:

lily
mustard
goosefoot
sunflower
gourd
grass
mint
pea
nightshade
parsley
miscellaneous

originally they were sorted differently--first according to seasons they grow, then according to wider categories (roots, fruits, leaves, herbs, legumes). but this year i decided to be more botanically accurate for the purposes of homeschool. thus, i count seed sorting and planting and record keeping for homeschool hours. Smile

floyd1440 5/29/2012, 6:54 pm

memart1 wrote:A 4" x 6" box is what I had readily available, but you could probably use a 3" x 5" file box. I have a lot of seeds that were given to me when a gardener friend passed away last spring.

Hey Ruth

Could you post a picture of the container you purchased at Walmart? I stopped by but could not find it..no suprise for a guy though

LOL

tabletopper 5/30/2012, 4:52 am

Glad to help.......I will take a picture but need someone to teach me to post...I will try.....Ruth

tabletopper 5/30/2012, 7:02 pm

Went to 2 Walmarts today and both had them.....my camera failed me...no picture at the stores.....anyhow they are on the top shelves....They different pics on the different sizes....this size has a pic of Trail Mix....anyhow I was off a lil on the size....5"x5"x7"....Walmart Customer Service is....800-876-6734....Better Homes and Gardens product called a Flip-Tite Container....

Hope to figure out why my camera didnt work ..I happened to have new batteries in it....so this is a learning progress for me.......Ruth

Maybe some people on the forum could check their Walmart the next time they are there.....maybe they would be interested also...this is a keeper system.....

floyd1440 5/30/2012, 8:12 pm

tabletopper wrote:Glad to help.......I will take a picture but need someone to teach me to post...I will try.....Ruth

If you start a new post asking how to post a picture, there are many that can tell you how and give you a link on how to do it.

I can do it but I needed the step by step method that was suggested

Very Happy

**walshevak** 5/30/2012, 9:37 pm

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t129-how-to-post-a-picture-located-on-your-computer

Sponsored content

Seed Packet Storage