Heirloom seed ready to be sealed in cans for long term storage
This past week we have been drying, testing, and packaging our heirloom seeds. We took pictures so you can get an idea of the process. Each variety of seeds has a different moisture content. They are carefully dried and tested before packaging.
It takes some planning to get them all dried at the same time so that they can be canned without resorbing the moisture from the air. Here you see the cans have just been filled. (These are two of the three cans in the 1 and 2 year kits. They contain the larger seeds; peas, beans, and corn.) All the seed is labeled so you know what heirloom variety it contains. To keep these non-hybrid seeds viable for many years, they must be packaged in glass, mylar, or metal. We chose metal as it is the most durable for long term storage. After the cans are sealed, they are labeled and boxed. We store them in a climate controlled room, until they are shipped to you. These seeds will maintian good germination for 50 years if you freeze them. To see how their germination declines with storage at different temperatures, check this page. http://downtoearthseeds.com/longtermseedstoragefacts.php
Canning seed for long term storage
And a word about germination rates, federal germination rates for vegetable seed ranges from 40-80%. Most seed is sold at much higher germination rates. http://elkhorn.unl.edu/epublic/live/g2090/build/#target2 ( We do not recommend you store seed in the freezer unless it has been dried and tested.)
