Organizing your SEED PACKETS

Lovesdirt wrote:Great ideas everyone. I have also been gathering ideas about how to organize seeds. I pinned this idea http://chiotsrun.com/2010/02/26/organizing-the-seed-stash/ to my Pinterest gardening board. I like the idea overall, but I think I would add a little more information to the back of each folder. Kelly

Clever idea...but instead of paper clipping the info to the folder, I'd use self-adhesive labels bcz paper clips are notorious for grabbing onto something else when you're putting them back into place.

Found this nifty ide for organizing seed by when you need them. I think I'd make the slots deeper or wider (so the month labels aren't covered up) and put a lid on the box (so you could store them in the frig or other cool place) with a couple of dessicant pkts. Would sure help with filing the Spring seeds for later Fall sowing, too, don't you think?

I keep seeds in a gallon ziplock in the fridge veggie crisper. They are wrapped in bundles with rubber bands. One for lettuces, one for radishes, one for flowers, one for broccoli/cabbages/cauli/etc, one for late summer etc.

I rotate some seed packs into a temp baggie that goes with me to the garden every day. I try to plant _something_ every time I am at the garden - usually radishes or lettuce.

I have a printed grid/plan that I take with me, but it is only an outline.

Luci, I LOVE the DIY seed storage box! That would be just what I would use, and it looks easy enough that I could actually put it together. Thanks for sharing!

I get links every so often and found this one to be perfect for this thread. It is a seed organizer this gal found. It is for photos she just re purposed it.

http://www.throwbackroad.com/2012/01/seed-organizing-and-garden-dreams.html

Ha-v-v wrote:I get links every so often and found this one to be perfect for this thread. It is a seed organizer this gal found. It is for photos she just re purposed it.

[url=http://www.throwbackroad.com/2012/01/seed-organizing-and-garden-dreams.html

http://www.throwbackroad.com/2012/01/seed-organizing-and-garden-dreams.html[/quote[/url]]



That's a great set up!

I followed the link to throwbackroad.com and I have a question to anybody who has actually purchased one of these storage cases.

The person who bought this box from costco said, "the only thing was to make sure that no moisture got in while being stored in plastic." This is what I am worried about. Has anyone actually used this box and would moisture be able to get inside the box.

http://www.throwbackroad.com/2012/01/seed-organizing-and-garden-dreams.html

Also, someone replying to the throwbackroad.com reference stated that she found a similar box at amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Double-Photo-Keeper-Cases-Iris/dp/B001MY9Z7M

But someone reviewing this product stated that "the small photo cases that the photo keeper comes with don't close very tightly".

I am worried about moisture. Has anyone actually used one of these two products.

WOWWIE WOW WOW Ha-v-v!

yolos wrote:I followed the link to throwbackroad.com and I have a question to anybody who has actually purchased one of these storage cases.

The person who bought this box from costco said, "the only thing was to make sure that no moisture got in while being stored in plastic." This is what I am worried about. Has anyone actually used this box and would moisture be able to get inside the box.

http://www.throwbackroad.com/2012/01/seed-organizing-and-garden-dreams.html

Also, someone replying to the throwbackroad.com reference stated that she found a similar box at amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Double-Photo-Keeper-Cases-Iris/dp/B001MY9Z7M

But someone reviewing this product stated that "the small photo cases that the photo keeper comes with don't close very tightly".

I am worried about moisture. Has anyone actually used one of these two products.

I have not used these boxes, I was offering a link to an idea I am still using a jar

Or this one, also at Amazon. I like the handle, the flatness of the box and that the "photos" are in more like an envelop than a snap shut case so I think a desiccant would work in this situation.

BTW the "photo protector envelopes" are sold separately so you could put them in the box of your choice. I also like that the tops of the "envelopes" are flat and can be written on.



Cropper Hopper Photo Case

Ha-v-v wrote:I get links every so often and found this one to be perfect for this thread. It is a seed organizer this gal found. It is for photos she just re purposed it.

http://www.throwbackroad.com/2012/01/seed-organizing-and-garden-dreams.html

Very clever, indeed. I think I may have something similar lurking around the house somewhere!

I saw that our Meijer had the plastic photo box storage "system" for $10. It includes the main box and 6 individual 4 x 6 boxes. I got it and can't wait to organize my seeds! They also had lots of the individual boxes for $2.00 - had to buy one (and maybe more) for my sewing stuff.

Hav-v-v, Thanks for posting the throwback road link. Very interesting blog.

LaborDay RN wrote:Hav-v-v, Thanks for posting the throwback road link. Very interesting blog.

I thought it was a nice site too you are welcome

What great ideas!

I love the first post - by making a card/label that is uniform, you know exactly where to look for your details. Then by putting it to the back, you're all set for succession planting.

Oh, and the powdered milk drying system...FABULOUS! I bet instant potatoes or rice flour would work too. I was just pondering how soften a number of harden cans of powdered supplements. It's not humid here, so I don't know why they became solid masses!

I have mine organized in Excel, so I can sort it by name, by size of plant (W or H), planting months, or any other column. I'm just starting with seeds and it helps me see my data.

Physically, the packets are alphabetical by veggie/herb/flower in a freezer zip lock bag.

For now...

What do y'all do with your packets after you opened them? How do you keep them from spilling? Use separate zipping snack bags?

(and it cracks me up how the same plant in two seed years from different manufacturers give different planting times for my area!)

AvaDGardner wrote:
What do y'all do with your packets after you opened them? How do you keep them from spilling? Use separate zipping snack bags?

I'm fortunate that my seed packets have "tacky glue" and are reclosable.

You can always use Repositionable Glue Sticks:

sfg4uKim wrote:I have seen women looking at jewelry ads with a misty eye and one hand
resting on the heart, and I only know what they're feeling because
that's how I read the seed catalogs in January.

I love this quote. It's what I do with rose catalogs. I keep old ones and drool over them, too! If what looks like a perfect addition didn't return the next year, I know there were problems and they pulled it, but the photo is so luscious to dream over!

BTS...where do you get resealable packets? Is that a particular brand? I'm so new to veggies I'm a seed catalog virgin!

sfg4uKim wrote:

AvaDGardner wrote:
What do y'all do with your packets after you opened them? How do you keep them from spilling? Use separate zipping snack bags?

I'm fortunate that my seed packets have "tacky glue" and are reclosable.

You can always use Repositionable Glue Sticks:

I have tried to keep the tops turned down,but. glue sticks, duh! Thanks Jo

mijejo wrote:Since I plan to start all indoor plantings via the baggie method, those types get a sandwich baggie and the sprouting medium inserted in the zip-lock bag. If they are to be sown outside, they get the seed tape (paper towel) inserted."

What is the "baggie method"? Do you start your seeds in baggies, rather than pots; or are you using that phrase to refer to your method of planning and storage?
[Sorry I've written this so long after your post. I was led here after I started a thread asking about a way of "filing" seeds (storing them as if in a file cabinet)]

I refer to the "baggie method" as the method gardeners often use to test the germination rate of seeds. The method involves using a damp medium (such as a paper towel), seeds, a plastic bag, and a warm location (top of fridge). Enclosing the seeds in the damp medium and checking after "X" number of days, the gardener will learn the viability of the seeds. If 10 seeds were used and 5 sprouted, the viability is 50%.

Instead of using this method as a test, I used it to germinate the seeds I wanted for transplants to the garden. Once seeds sprouted, I carefully planted them in a seedling growing mix and placed them under lights. Depending on the plant, they may have additional up-potting until they were ready for the garden.

This was my first year doing this method. Like all of my gardening experiments - there are successes and failures. Some plants did very well, and others did not. However, I can blame a number of variables which contributed to the failures. I will try this again next year. In particular, I had great success with the cold weather type crops. So much so, that they were ready for the cold frame in February, and my family enjoyed a small harvest in early March of the lettuces and other leafy greens.

imo this thread should be stikied

I leave the seeds in the original packets, fold the top and put them in jars paper clipped together with all their buddies and a label. I can fold the bunch in half before inserting them into the jar so the label shows thru the jar, and I can fit 2 or 3 groups of buddies in each jar. I also add one or two of those moisture packets that comes in vitamins and such. (I get my moisture packets from Traders Joes seaweed snacks - YUM!



Then I line them up in the back of the fridge, bottom shelf. I use to put all the jars in a plastic lettuce clam pack before putting them in the fridge but that takes up too much valuable fridge space. Lining them across the back is almost unnoticeable.

Then when I need something, I just turn the jar to find the buddy group I want to work. I like that they are with their buddies coz while sifting thru a group I sometimes find others I haven't planted in a while and could do so again.

CC

Yes, this should be stickied!

I just separated my seeds and put the "cool weather" ones in a sealed ziplock and in the fridge. The warm weather ones are in a different ziplock, but in my gardening bag.

It was an interesting exerciese...some onions are warm and some are cool. Same with herbs.

I had no idea.

Ava

Last year I put all my seeds in mason jars an kept them in the fridge on the bottom shelve and it worked OK.

This year I got a lot more diffent types of seeds and was looking for a better way to find seed packets in the future. I went to an office supply store and they were practically giving away these cd boxes. Opened one up and they had 50 individual containers, like hanging files, to put you cd's in.

Natually I bought one and the seed packets fit in them very nicely. I organised mine in alphebetical order but may consider getting a few more boxes for planting by seasons..............