How to store the collected seeds. How to save seeds? Secrets of processing and packaging

The worst enemy of dormant seeds is warm, moist air. Where it is hot and humid, the seeds lose their germination in a matter of months, and with free access to air - in a few weeks. Sharp changes in temperature are also unfavorable.

The ideal conditions for storing most seeds are moderate temperatures (12-15°C) without significant fluctuations, moderate air humidity (not higher than 50% relative humidity) and limited air access.

Seeds should not be left for the winter in unheated rooms on garden plots, it is better to transport them to the city, without leaving them in dampness and cold for a long time. For damp seeds sub-zero temperatures, are detrimental, especially when the temperature repeatedly passes through 0 ° C.

With deep freezing (-15°C and below), dry seeds retain their viability well, but their storage in a frozen form is still undesirable. They fall into a state of deep dormancy and, when germinating, behave as dissimilar. To bring them into an active state, stimulating effects are required, for example, warming up.

Where is the best place to store seeds? living conditions, in particular, in a city apartment? It is clear that the seeds cannot be stored in the kitchen due to large changes in humidity. They should also not be kept on the refrigerator door, because when the door is opened, cold objects on it come into contact with warm air, and moisture condenses on them.

Most suitable place for seeds are living rooms, although there are no ideal conditions. If a central heating works well, in living rooms the temperature is several degrees above the optimum and the air is too dry (relative humidity below 30%).

But the temperature fluctuations there are small and not sharp. Under these conditions, the main danger is the drying of seeds. If their humidity falls below a critical level, the seeds quickly age and lose their germination.

And yet we will not find a better place for our seeds than the bottom shelf of the linen closet or the bottom drawer. desk in the living room. By wrapping paper seed bags in plastic bags or foil, we will restrict air access to the seeds and prevent them from drying out.

At home the best place for storing seeds - drawers of a linen closet. If you prefer to store the seeds in the refrigerator, then keep them in the lower compartment. Before sowing seeds stored in the cold, they need to be activated. The seeds are removed from the refrigerator in advance (one month before sowing) and kept at a temperature of 25-35 ° C, placing the bags in plastic bag to avoid drying out. If this has not been done, a short warm-up is needed in hot water, which simultaneously serves as thermal disinfection.

Seeds stored in a refrigerator, before determining germination or sowing seedlings, must be activated by heating for a month at an air temperature of 25-35 ° C or by heating in water at 50-52 ° C for 25 minutes.

Some gardeners do not see the point in storing seeds, because with the onset of spring, you can just go to the store and buy literally everything your heart desires. However, sometimes seeds of varieties of interest (especially rare ones) are not available for sale, in which case you have to be content with what you have. And many people collect the seeds of their favorite varieties on their own, respectively, they need to save them safe and sound until spring.

What determines the survival of seeds

Seed survival is influenced by many factors. The main indicator of further seed germination is moisture. Seeds characterized by high humidity can germinate quickly during storage, suddenly become covered with unpleasant mold, or even begin to rot. In this regard, it is allowed to lay only well-dried seed material for storage.

To a large extent, the processes occurring in the seeds are also affected by the temperature of their storage. If it is too high, the seeds will begin to breathe more actively, respectively, stocks nutrients they begin to oxidize much faster. Seeds can retain their germination capacity only if they are stored in sufficiently cool rooms. During normal storage in warm places seeds often partially or completely lose their germination capacity. And if you place them on the side shelf at the bottom of the refrigerator, their germination practically does not change.

Slight coolness, that is, a temperature in the range of twelve to sixteen degrees, is ideal for storing most seeds. But for the storage of seeds of onions, carrots and asters, cold is required. If possible, it is better to leave them to spend the winter in the country. In principle, the balcony of the apartment is also suitable. As for the seeds of various root crops and salads, for their storage low temperatures, on the contrary, are contraindicated, otherwise, when sowing, they will unpleasantly surprise with early shooting, which cannot but affect the volume of the crop.

Another an important factor for storage of seeds is their purity, which means the absence of debris in the seeds that can provoke their decay. There should not be various granivorous pests in the seeds - they will easily destroy stocks in just some two to three months.

As for air, of course, the seeds also need it, but it will be enough in very small volumes. As a rule, the air is removed from the seed bags almost completely. However, here there is an exception - these are large-sized seeds (legumes, for example). Good air circulation can significantly extend their life. So for storing legume seeds, unclosed jars or bags placed in a dry place will be an ideal option.

And in order to provide the seeds with deep rest, they should be stored in the dark. They will not need light until the very sowing, as it provokes the germination of seeds.

How to pack seeds

An excellent packaging for better preservation of seed germination will be metallized bags. Often this type of packaging is used by foreign manufacturers, and even after the expiration date, the seeds stored in them germinate perfectly. No worse than the seeds will be stored in vacuum bags. The most common option is sachets lined with film on the inside. However, this applies only to hermetically sealed bags by the manufacturer. If you use them again, the effect will not be the same. Seeds in an opened package immediately begin to breathe actively and gradually lose their germination capacity, so they should be used as soon as possible.

Regarding paper bags, although they are quite cheap, the shelf life of the seeds stored in them is usually much less. Moreover, such packaging cannot guarantee high seed germination and, accordingly, decent yields. Here's how lucky.

Of course, all seeds must be signed, indicating the names of crops and their varieties, as well as the years the seeds were collected.

Where is the best place to store seeds?

In principle, you can store seeds at home in any room, with the exception of the kitchen - systematic changes in temperature and humidity in the kitchen will clearly not benefit the seeds. personally harvested seeds it is quite acceptable to pack in polyethylene bags or in paper. However, in rooms with sufficiently humid air, it is still better to prefer the film - being a serious barrier to moisture, it also allows a certain amount of oxygen to pass through, allowing the seeds to breathe. As a rule, the seeds are placed closer to the floor, under the bed or in the lower drawers of cabinets - the temperature below is usually lower than at the top.

If there are a lot of seeds, then it is best to store them in places with constant low temperature- in the underground or in the basement. And to protect them from excessive dampness and from mice, the seeds can be placed in small jars, the lids of which can be easily sealed tightly. Silicogel also protects well from moisture - it can often be found in packages from under shoes and bags. This synthetic material perfectly absorbs moisture from the air. If you put a few grains in jars with seeds, they will absorb all the excess dampness in the shortest possible time.

Since autumn, true gardeners have been planning what to plant in the country in next year. Therefore, favorite varieties are prepared in advance from planted crops, collected from friends or ordered from online stores. It often happens that the planted seeds do not germinate, take a long time to germinate and grow poorly. This may be due to improper storage. To obtain excellent harvest, should be properly stored and prepared seeds.

Seeds collected in a warm, dry year germinate best. You need to take them from the most ripe, big fruits. Seeds are cleaned of pulp, debris, impurities and set to dry in the sun. Make sure the seeds dry properly. You can store in a paper, metal container, sealed plastic bags, canvas bags. Seeds should not be stuffed too much, there should be air between them. All packages, bags need to be signed, so you can easily figure it out when they land.

Optimum temperature for storage no higher than plus 18C. Some cultures prefer to store at 0-5C. The room where the seeds are stored must be dry. Humid air can cause rot or premature germination.

Seeds can be stored in any room, except for the kitchen, bath. Since in these rooms there are constant changes in temperature and humidity. You can place containers with seeds in the bottom shelf of the cabinet, under the bed, in the pantry. In these places, the temperature is lower and the space is darker, which is also important.

The shelf life of seeds different plants various. Cucumber seeds can be stored for 8 years, beans - 5 years, zucchini, squash, pumpkin - 6 years. Late-ripening seeds remain viable longer than early-ripening ones.

Once a month, check the safety of the seeds, their condition. So you will timely detect spoiled ones among them and reject them.

January 2001

© LLC "Selection and seed company "Manul"

Cucumber seeds should be stored in a cool, dry place. The main reason for the premature decline in seed germination is high humidity air. The higher it is, the higher the moisture content of the seeds themselves, and this contributes to an increase in their respiration intensity (i.e., start-up processes before germination). With active respiration of seeds, a lot of moisture is released, which leads them to “sluggish mold”; toxic products of respiration accumulate in the seeds as a result of hydrolytic processes. All this causes a sharp decrease in germination. In addition, at high humidity air, especially at high temperatures, self-heating of seeds and the development of mold fungi are observed.

Seed moisture, the excess of which leads to a sharp increase in the intensity of respiration, is called "critical". For cucumber she makes up 10-12 %. In accordance with GOST R 52171-2003 moisture content of seeds of the 1st class should be no more than 8%.

The main condition for long-term preservation of high germination of seeds: the seeds must be dry all the time.

Initially, no matter how dry the seeds are, after several months of storage they gain a certain amount of moisture depending on the humidity of the air (equilibrium humidity):

* - average air temperature +10...+25°С.

Thus, the lower the air humidity and temperature, the longer the seeds remain viable, and vice versa.

Seeds can be stored both in paper bags and in fabric bags (i.e., in a container that allows moisture and air to pass through), and in plastic bags (in a container that does not allow air to pass through).

Storage in a moisture-permeable container. The optimum air temperature here is +10...+15°С, and the relative air humidity is not higher than 60%. Seeds should not be stored in damp places: in unheated dachas, cellars. It should be noted that cucumber seeds are "not afraid" negative temperatures(under conditions of temperature below 0 ° C, it is impossible to keep the seeds of lettuce, Chinese cabbage, root crops, because in this case they go through the vernalization stage, and the plants then quickly bloom, not having time to form a marketable head or root crop). However, at low temperatures, the air must necessarily remain dry, the seeds must not become damp.

High air temperature (+28 ..... + 30 ° C and above) leads to the drying of seeds. So you can store cucumber seeds for 1 year, no more; at more long-term storage premature loss of germination will begin.

Storage in a moisture-proof container. Seeds in sealed polyethylene or foil packaging retain their germination longer compared to storage open way. Polyethylene film practically impervious to water and vapor, relatively well permeable to oxygen and carbon dioxide. Seeds must be dried before being stored in a moisture-proof bag; moisture content of cucumber seeds should not exceed 6-8 %. The packaging must be sealed so that moist air does not get inside.

If you have extra seeds left after sowing, dry them directly in seed bags (it doesn’t matter what they are made of: paper or foil) for 2-3 weeks at air temperature +25.....+30°С; bags must be opened. Then close the bags and put them in a plastic bag. To ensure the tightness of the package, at a height 15-20 cm from the top of the bag, tie it tightly with twine. Fold the top edge of the bag down and tie with twine a second time.

The optimum temperature for storing cucumber seeds in moisture-proof packaging is the same as when stored in paper bags or cloth bags: +10 ..... + 15 ° С. Humidity should also not be high, but the seeds will not suffer from accidental increases or fluctuations in humidity.

At the end of autumn and winter, gardeners begin to deal with seeds, prepare for the next season. Already in early spring, you need to grow seedlings, plant early varieties vegetables.

Good seedlings will give those seedlings that were contained in relevant conditions. Therefore, it is important to know how to store seeds properly.

1 What influences safety?

There are several factors that affect the storage of planting material. These include:

Cold. The lower the degrees, the longer the seedlings do not lose their germination. Warm air contributes to the rapid oxidation of nutrients. Many novice gardeners are interested in the temperature at which seeds should be stored. For most seeds, + 12-16 degrees is suitable. Some seedlings love the cold, others should not be left at low degrees.
Humidity. With high humidity, seedlings can become moldy, germinate and even rot. Therefore, you need to store well-dried seeds. The room needs some ventilation. The optimum humidity should be no more than 50%. For cucumber, radish, tomato, beans allowable rate - 60%;
Purity. No debris should get into the planting material. From it, rotting can begin, they will appear, which will destroy the seedlings.
Air. Air currents contribute to the respiration of seeds. Usually large seeds are stored in open containers for better air circulation. This is especially true for legumes.
Darkness. The absence of light helps to keep the seeds dormant, prevents them from germinating. Before sowing, they are stored in complete darkness.

Due to non-compliance with these factors, planting material may lose its germination property. The main reason for poor germination is high humidity. Therefore, the collected planting material is dried on the street or indoors.

Lay out on newspaper or paper so that all the moisture is absorbed. You can not dry them under the sun, near the battery - you can. If the room is 20-25 degrees, the seeds will dry out in a few days.

1.1 How and where to store?

There are two ways to keep seeds:

Open. Planting material is in a container that passes moisture and air well to it. Suitable bags made of natural fabrics. They can be sewn from linen in one or two layers.
Closed. This method is used less frequently. It is necessary to place the planting material in a soft container made of waterproof material. The container should consist of two layers: fabric and polyethylene.

Experienced gardeners know how to properly store vegetable seeds. It is advised to place them in paper bags, and then in plastic bottles or cans. If the seeds from the purchased bag are not used up to the end, you can leave them in it, carefully wrapping them.

To the bottom glass jars and plastic bottles it is recommended to pour a little starch or flour. They help you absorb excess moisture. The lid of the container is tightly closed. It is necessary to store planting material in the refrigerator or in a cool room.

It can also be kept in a room where there are no changes in humidity. The kitchen is not the best room for this. It is advised to place the seedlings closer to the floor, in the lower drawers of the cabinet. It is good to keep the seeds in the basement or where the degree of air heating is low. In this case, you will have to close the jars so that mice do not climb into them. Seeds stored in sachets or sacks can become damp, therefore, to keep them in the cellar, they are poured into dry bottles, tightly closed and stored like this all winter.

It is very convenient to keep planting material in plastic boxes with branches for each type of culture. Suitable containers or organizers for small items.

1.2 How to properly store seeds of various crops? (video)

1.3 Term of use

You can see the date by which you need to have time to use the seeds on the package. It usually indicates the year of collection, class. Knowing the expiration date is necessary in order to get full seedlings. If the seeds were not planted before the specified date, their germination will be greatly reduced, the seedlings will be sick and exposed to pests.

Seeds usually keep longer than indicated on the package. Some gardeners buy seedlings that they received in the previous year. This is especially true for dill, parsley and other vegetables with a short shelf life. Many indoor and perennials lose their germination rate quickly, so they are planted immediately after purchase.

Each vegetable crop its shelf life of seeds. For example, for onions, it is 1–2 years, and for tomatoes, it can reach up to 10 years. Planting material of parsley and dill is stored for 2 to 3 years, and carrots and peppers - 3–4 years. The period of use of zucchini and eggplant seeds is 4 years, radish, watermelon, beet and pumpkin - 4–5 years.

Flower seeds also have different expiration dates. So, for example, aster planting material is stored for less than a year, for calendula and verbena, the period of use is 1-2 years, for chrysanthemum, dahlia - 2-3 years, for milk thistle and flax - 3 years, for cornflower - 5-6 years.

There are several rules for storing seeds that help to get a full harvest:

seeds purchased from winter time years, immediately put in the refrigerator or store in a cool place. This is necessary so that condensate does not form in the bags, which increases the moisture content of the seeds;
freshly harvested seeds germinate worse than those harvested from the previous year's crop. It refers to northern regions countries;
before sowing, it is recommended to check the seeds for germination, even if they were stored under ideal conditions;
don't stock up planting material for the future;
on packages with seedlings, marks should be made on when to sow this type of crop.

It is also important to choose the right seeds. For them, it is better to go to a flower or specialty store. It is advised to choose trusted manufacturers and pay attention to the expiration date. Varieties need to choose those that are suitable for this region, get carried away exotic plants not worth it.

It is important to know that they will not be able to maintain their properties in the next generations, so they will have to be bought every season. But they are more resistant to diseases and develop quickly, giving a stable harvest. The bags with hybrid materials are labeled F1.

Before you start planting seeds after "hibernation", you should familiarize yourself with the rules for bringing them out of dormancy, as well as how to stimulate a quick shoot.