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Colorado

Just wondering if it would be good to keep seeds frozen and is it hard on them to be frozen and unfrozen or can they only be frozen once? Thanks

11/9/2011 10:24:14 PM

El Paso TX.

Should only be frozen once - and should not be frozen until they are completely dried first (any moisture in the seed still when frozen can damage the seed and the moisture that accumulates from unfreezing\refreezing will do the same !)

11/9/2011 10:27:40 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Do not put them in a 'frost free' freezer or it will suck everything out of them. One of the types you have to defrost once in awhile is the kind of freezer you need.

I have found that either seal-a-meal'ing them or putting into a widemouth quart jar and putting a fresh ring and lid on it is the best way to prepare them for the storage.

11/10/2011 4:36:42 AM

Muddy Waters

Mine are in a frost free,if there airtight it shouldnt matter.perscription bottles are airtight,Hot seeds can be be in doulbled sealed containers,like a small ziploc,then put in bottle.I wouldnt freeze new seeds for at least 3 months.You can pull seeds out of freezer & ship and re freeze its been done several times with us freezer people,no problems thus far.I was 19 out 20 on germing melons.& 5 out 6 on kins.

11/10/2011 7:20:59 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

I use thoZe new ZZiploc bagZ that one can suck all the air out of. SeemZ to work really well, I freeZe groups of them, including oneZ in the coinZ. I have germed some with no appearance of any problems. I often wonder what happens with the seeds going thru the post this time of year as many timeZ by the time I get home, the seeds have sat in the mail box in freeZZZing weather... Perhaps I should add a fur lining to me mailbox... Now that ought to surpriZe the mail lady....lol

11/10/2011 10:01:30 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

There is plenty of science behind stratification, in which some seeds actually need freezing temps before they will germinate. I'm talking about certain types of trees (oak) and other seeds that need stratification. For a while I've been meaning to do an experiment, to see if GP seeds will get better germination rates if they are stratified.

Keep in mind that seeds can sit out in the garden soil... mud... freezing at night and thawing in the sun the next day, just sitting there until the temp finally warms up and they will germinate. Plenty of stratification cycles are in nature folks... and if the seeds weren't tough enough they would have gone extinct long ago.

The main point is, I believe stratification is beneficial to GP seeds, but I don't have any proof of that.

11/10/2011 12:57:52 PM

Muddy Waters

Marvin Mitchell says melon seeds germinate better if frozen first,he gets a better % germed.

11/10/2011 7:34:08 PM

Duxbury,Ma.

Be interesting to know how many seeds that are swapped have come from freezers,thawed in mail and then re-frozen and germinated or not refrozen and germinated.

11/11/2011 6:58:26 AM

Southeast

I have germinanted seeds over 11 yrs old that are stored in a frost free freezer. Iceman did his own experiment on freezing and refreezing a few yrs back. Interesting. This study did not have any further studies done to try and at least determine any statistical significance.

11/11/2011 9:00:49 AM

Joliet, IL

Frozen, thawed, then frozen is no big deal if seeds are dried enough initially. 75 out of 76 this year and 54 of 54 last year with all seeds stored in the freezer and some brought out of the freezer and then back in again. Double bagged inside ball jars or tupperware to keep moisture consistent which is key.

11/11/2011 12:05:34 PM

Southeast

I keep my seeds in Ball Jars inside zip locks. Not sure if it matters.

11/11/2011 6:52:13 PM

Napa Valley, CA

I have not tried freezing my seeds, but like David G, I have germinated seeds over 11 years old. These are seeds that I have stored in a refrigerator at about 38 degrees. I store my seeds in zip lock plastic bags then place them in plastic containers with a few packets of silica gel.

11/11/2011 11:19:32 PM

Massachusetts

i know a lot of growers know about this , but for the new people this is some great reading about freezing seeds
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svalbard_Global_Seed_Vault

11/13/2011 7:58:31 AM