How to Store Unused Seeds: Proven Strategies for Saving Unused Seeds for Next Year’s Garden

If we are unable to plant all the seeds that are included in your packets, can they be saved to use in next year’s garden? or even the year after?

Yes, if you are unable to use all of your seeds purchased in a given year you can certainly store them. How to store unused seeds is an essential skill for gardeners who want to maximize the value of their seed packets and ensure a thriving garden year after year. Whether you’re saving seeds for next year’s garden or looking for strategies for long term seed storage, proper techniques are crucial to maintaining seed viability.

By following proven storage methods, you can protect your seeds from moisture, temperature fluctuations, and other factors that may impact their ability to germinate. This guide will help you understand the best practices for storing unused seeds so you can enjoy a successful planting season in the future.

Keys to Seed Storage

The keys to storing seeds for length of viability are a cool, dark, dry environment. One of the best ways we recommend for a year or two storage without loosing much viability is to store them in a mason jar, tightly sealed, in the refrigerator, and with some kind of wrapping either inside or outside the container to help keep out light (this part is not as necessary as the cool and sealed, we have skipped this step and had good results, but we give this recommendation for keeping the highest germination rate possible).

One can also freeze seeds that are low enough in moisture (8% or less) for even longer storage. But, low enough moisture can be hard to determine for the home gardener. For this reason, we typically just recommend refrigerator storage for most of our customers. 🙂

Seed Storage and Germination

Here are some quotes on the subject of how to store unused seeds, including for long-term storage, taken from an excellent resource on the subject of growing and saving seeds for vegetable gardeners “Seed to Seed” by Suzanne Ashworth:

• “Seeds will retain maximum vigor when thoroughly dried and stored in a moisture proof container”
• “The two greatest enemies of stored seeds are high temperature and high moisture. Seeds that are stored at fluctuating temperature and moisture levels will quickly loose their ability to germinate.”
• “Glass and metal are the only common materials that are completely moisture proof. Glass jars with good rubber seals under the lids, such as baby food jars or canning jars with new lids, provide a nearly airtight seal when screwed on really tight.”
• “Seeds of all species can be stored for many years with almost no loss of germination and only minimal loss of vigor, when dried to about 8% seed moisture, sealed into an airtight container (such as in the above quote) and frozen.”
• “A quick and easy test(to see if dry enough) is that seeds will break instead of bending when folded if their moisture level is 8% or less. Also hard shelled seeds, such as beans or corn, will shatter instead of mashing when placed on concrete and struck with a hammer.”

Seed Drying for Home Gardeners

A way we have found of drying seeds for the home gardener to bring the moisture low enough, and keep high viability is using a food dehydrator, with very careful monitoring of temperature, as anything over 95°F will damage the seeds viability. We always keep at 85°F to be safe. Even placing on a window screen with a fan blowing on them until they are dry enough works.

Conclusion to How to Store Unused Seeds

How to store unused seeds is a crucial skill for gardeners who want to get the most out of their seed packets and ensure a flourishing garden year after year. By creating the right environment—cool, dark, and dry—and using proven strategies like airtight storage and refrigeration, you can preserve your seeds’ viability for saving seeds for next year’s garden. For even longer storage, freezing seeds with low moisture content is an effective option to maintain germination rates and vigor.

Proper long-term seed storage doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple steps, such as drying seeds thoroughly with a food dehydrator or using a fan, combined with careful storage methods, can significantly extend the lifespan of your seeds. Whether you’re preparing for next season or planning to store seeds for years to come, these tips will help you protect your investment and ensure your garden thrives. With these strategies, you can confidently save seeds for future planting and enjoy a bountiful harvest for years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions: How to Store Unused Seeds