Wet Seed Storing

Certain wet foods, like tomatoes and cucumbers, protect their seeds with a gel that needs processing before storage. First, spoon the seeds and gel into a glass of equal parts water and place it out of direct sunlight. Be sure to swirl the mixture twice a day for five days. During this period, the gel will ferment, so be prepared as some smell may arise. 

At the end of the process, the healthy seeds will sink to the bottom, making it easy to dispose of the gel and weak seeds. Wash and dry the seeds with a paper towel before laying them out in an even layer for drying. Store in a warm location until the seeds are thoroughly dried, which can take several weeks.

Checking to see whether seeds sink or float to determine viability is relatively standard. Testing in both winter squash and melons (like watermelon and cantaloupe) functions similarly. While neither varieties need to be fermented, they do require attention when washing all plant material from the seeds before drying. 

Where Do I Store My Seeds?

After a season of effort in your garden, you're going to want to ensure your seeds are stored properly. The closer you can get your storage conditions to an ideal state, the better chances you have of your seeds surviving their dormancy to next year.

Make sure to store seeds in a cool, dark place that is free of moisture. Too much humidity or heat could lead to mildew forming on the seeds or premature germination. One way to do this is to seal your seeds in an airtight, glass container.

Don't have a glass container? Not a problem! Coin envelopes are an excellent option for storing small amounts of seeds. Even washed out and recycled pill bottles or cardboard containers can save your seeds until next season.

Ideal Temperatures For Seed Storing

The University of Minnesota Extension has found that temperatures between 32F (0C) and 41F (5C) are ideal for seed storage. Storing in a refrigerator or a freezer can extend the life of your seeds for several years. Though this isn't a perfect strategy and some seeds may not handle it well. Be sure to check if your seeds need any special requirements before storage.

How Long Can My Seeds Be Stored?

The length you can store seeds is going to be dependant on the varieties you are attempting to save. Tomato seeds, when stored properly, can retain their viability for roughly three years. Beans, another popular snack, will preserve for two years in ideal conditions. But some seeds, like those of pumpkins, can store for up to six years!

Some seeds store better than others, meaning you may get additional years using some of your seeds. But, these seeds won't last forever and eventually lose their viability.

When storing seeds for extended periods, you may want to test their viability before betting your spring crop on them. By taking a set amount of seeds and sprouting them a few weeks before spring, you can determine the germination rate and estimate how many you should grow.

How About My Tomato?

Now, let's continue the journey of the tomato seeds we planted in the first article of this series: Growing a Garden: Starting From Seed. You've enjoyed your tomatoes all season! Putting them in salads, on sandwiches, and giving them away to friends and family. But the season is coming to a close, and the last of the tomatoes look ready for harvest.

Taking from the healthiest plants, you collect a basket of ripe tomatoes that will make up your seed harvest. Knowing you need to ferment the seeds, you cut open the tomatoes and remove the gel and seeds with a spoon. Filling the container with equal parts water, you spend the next week mixing the concoction.

Finally, you notice a significant amount of seeds floating at the top as well as a little bit of mold. You remember reading that mold could form and to take extra care when removing the liquid. Once all that remains are the healthy seeds, you wash them a few more times to ensure they are clean.

Laying out the seeds in an even layer over a paper towel, you let them dry for a week in a dimly lit space. In this time, you label your airtight container with "Tomato – Scotia – 2020" and keep it nearby. Once the seeds are dried completely, you put them into the jar and store it away in the back of your fridge until next year.

Seed saving can seem overwhelming to even an experienced gardener. But these are all things we have faced, from growing from seed to maintaining the mature plant. Once we complete the process, turning the closed sign on our little grocery plot, we see how rewarding it can be. Best of all, by taking up this hobby, you are carrying on a legacy that can be dated back to the beginnings of agriculture and human society. So take some time to kick back, reminisce on the last growing season, and dream about what next year's crops may bring.