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Re: Seed Storage Question

Joshua, 
Today, you asked:
> I am storing seed for several months in the refrigerator. One of the
> seed firms I deal with has sent what looks like vacuum-packed seed in
> heat-sealed plastic bags. Question: do I have to poke holes in these
> bags? I was taught that seed respirates even when dormant, and needs
> some oxygen. Or is there enough dissipation through the plastic? The
> bags are thicker than typical sandwich or food storage bags, more like
> the ziploc pouches some electronic parts come in.

You can trust your seedhouse.  Do NOT poke holes in the bag.  The plastic
pouches are probably not just polyethylene (PE or polythene if you are not
from the US), but are likely PE plus a more water vapor-tight plastic (like
mylar).  The pouch limits moisture transmission across the plastic to
almost nothing.  Believe it or not, even PE transmits some moisture.  

For periods of up to years, you can store many kinds of seeds dry and
sealed in these pouches.  If you have purchased seeds from Burpees or
Parks, you will recall that they pack their seeds in foil pouches.  These
are actually made from foil/mylar/PE.  I developed a packaging system for a
seed company that duplicated these pouches.  Why?  Because the shelf life
of the pouch-stored seeds was much, much longer than storing them any other
way.  Long shelf life means long inventory value.  

Many of the vegetable seeds I used to purchase from Japan came to me sealed
in cans.  Yes, I mean tinned steel cans, just like the cans that
vegetables, fruits, soups and coffee come in.  Sometimes, aluminum cans
with pull-top lids (like the single serving fruit cups and puddings).  

And yes, the dormant seed is still alive.  But there is plenty of oxygen in
the pouch and within the seed itself for the low level of respiration that
occurs, especially at the low temperatures of a refrigerator.  
 
Rick Grazzini
rickg@centrelab.com
USDA 6 / Sunset 43
in central PA, where I am frantically trying to keep up with my
cross-pollinations ...
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