Seeds to Store for SHTF

Why store seeds?

Storing seeds is important for you and your family. It is a form of insurance because it provides you a dependable long term food source when crap hits it. These seeds can be beneficial to your family when grown and harvested.

When storing seeds, make sure that you store only open-pollinated seeds like organic or heirloom seeds and not hybrid seeds which are artificially pollinated and mainly created for commercial farmers. Produce from hybrid seeds are often not as nutritious and tasty as produce from heirloom seeds. Also, hybrid seeds do not store well and plants from them gradually lose their quality in the second or third generation.

Knowing what seeds to store is important. There are different kinds of plants and if you know what they can give you or what they can be used for, you will know what types of seeds to store as well. There are plants that can be used as a good source of nourishment, there are plants that contain a lot of vitamins that our body needs; there are plants that can be used to repel insects like garlic and cucumber; and there are plants that can be used for medicinal purposes. Consider also what seeds are easy to grow and what grow best in your area.

Here are 25 different seeds that you can store for SHTF:

Barley
You can plant this seed in spring and winter. You can use barley to make flour and you can feed it to your livestock. It contains Dietary Fiber and Manganese.

Beans
One of the easiest plant to grow and it contains Fiber, Calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K.

Broccoli
Broccoli is also one of the easiest plants to grow. It contains Protein, Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Broccoli can tolerate light frost.

Carrot
Carrots can be planted in fall, winter, and spring. It is a good source for Beta Carotene and Vitamin A.

Cauliflower
Cauliflower can be planted in a cool weather and can be harvested in a short period of time. Cauliflower is a good source for Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C and Vitamin K.

Corn
Sow seeds during the last date of frost in your area. Corn is a good source for Protein, Calcium, and Iron.

Cucumber
Cucumber prefers warm weather. Cucumber is a good source for Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin K and Potassium.

Eggplant
Eggplant also prefers warm weather. It contains Fiber, Antioxidants, Vitamin B1 and Vitamin B6.

Lettuce
Sow seeds two weeks before the last date of frost. You can also plant lettuce in fall, sow seeds 6-8 weeks before the first date of frost. Lettuce is a good source for Protein, Iron, Calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C and Vitamin K.

Melon
Sow seeds four week before the last date of frost. Melon is a good source for Fiber, Vitamin B6, and Folate.

Okra
Sow seeds two weeks after the last date of frost. Okra is a good source for Folate, Calcium, Vitamin A and Vitamin K.

Onion
Onion contains Dietary Fiber, Folate, Potassium, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin C.

Garlic
Garlic is a good source for antioxidants and you can use it as an insect repellent.

Peanuts
Peanuts are rich in antioxidants, protein, healthy fats, and Vitamin E.

Peas
Peas contain 8 different vitamins including Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin K. It is also a good source of protein and fiber.

Peppers
Peppers contain Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Sow seeds after the last date of frost.

Potatoes
Potatoes are a good source for Fiber, Potassium, Vitamins B6 and C.

Pumpkin
Pumpkin contains a lot of vitamins such as Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. It is also a good source for Thiamine and Niacin.

Radish
Radish contains Dietary Fiber, Iron, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin C. Sow seeds four to six weeks before the last date of frost.

Spinach
Spinach is a good source of antioxidants, folic acid, vitamin A and vitamin C.

Squash
Squash is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin, C, vitamin K and vitamin B6.

Tomato
Tomato is a good source of potassium, thiamine, niacin, vitamins A, C, K, and E.

Turnips
Turnip is a good source of iron, calcium, vitamins C and B6.

Wheat
Wheat is a good source of copper, iron, calcium, and zinc.

How to store seeds?

Before you store your seeds, make sure that the seeds are dried. Dried seeds last longer. Store the seeds in a cool and dry area. Moisture and heat can cause seeds to spoil. When storing seeds in container, make sure that you use an airtight container. An example of an airtight container is a Mason jar, you can also use ammo cases.

Image Credits: Witthaya Phonsawat; rakratchada torsap