Why Preppers Need to Store Seeds + Tips on Storing Seeds

Storing seeds is very important for preppers. You can grow these seeds and harvest them for food, which can provide you and your family with a long term food source. Open-pollinated seeds such as organic or heirloom seeds are the best seeds to store. Do not store hybrid seeds because these seeds do not store well.

When tragedy strikes, a shortage of food supply is expected and food prices will surely go off the roof. If you have your own seeds stored, you can use them to start a garden (if you have not started one yet). If you can start growing your own food now, I suggest you do so. If space is a problem, you can start a vegetable or herb garden using containers. There are many different kinds of vegetables that can be grown in containers.

Seeds can be used to barter in case of a long-term crisis. There are also seeds you can store for food which are excellent sources of proteins and vitamins.

You can start purchasing seeds at the start of the growing season but to save money, buy seeds right after the gardening season in your area.

Storing seeds can be a bit trickier than storing food but it can be done. Heat, light, humidity, and oxygen are important factors to consider when storing seeds.

Here’s a quick guide for storing seeds properly:

• Make sure to keep your seeds at a temperature of 40 F or less.
• Do not store your seeds where there are fluctuations in temperature. For example avoid storing the seeds in a place where it is cold in winter but too hot in summer (i.e. garage or storeroom).
• Do not store the seeds in a well lit room or where there is direct sun light. Avoid light.
• Use moisture proof container in storing seeds. You can use Mylar bag, Mason jar, food saver bag, and Ziploc bag. When you are going to use Ziploc bag, make sure that you squeeze out all the air first.
• Use silica gel or oxygen absorber to extend the life of your stored seeds.
• Rotate your stored seeds every few years.
• When you are ready to use the seeds, keep them in their closed container first and wait until the seeds’ temperature is at a room temperature. Do this to prevent unwanted condensation from settling on the seed packets.
• If you are saving seeds from your own garden, you must spread them first and allow them to air dry. When the seeds are already dry, put them in containers like envelopes or repurposed medicine bottles. Don’t forget to label the containers and put them in your refrigerator or freezer.

There are a lot of seeds that you can store for several years. You can store different seeds in different periods of time. You will only get reliable germination rates on seeds that are stored for less than a year.