If you have finished planting for the season and have some extra vegetable seeds, here are some ideas on how to keep them fresh and ready for next year.
Some seeds can last for a few years. Examples of these are watermelon, tomato, pepper, cucumber, squash, carrot, lettuce, pea, spinach, radish, beans and other similar varietals. Other seeds such as corn, onion and some more sensitive seeds will only last a year or so.
No matter what type of seeds you are looking to save, you should always try to store them in an airtight container, in a cool and dark location. The refrigerator works great, however, you do not want the seeds to freeze. You also want to ensure there isn’t any moisture in the storage container as that will reduce the time that the seeds will remain good.
This is not only a good method for storing extra seeds, it is also a great way to store seeds that you harvest from the vegetable plants you are growing this season. This way you will be ready to plant them at the ideal time next year.
With a little care, you will be able to maximize the amount of seeds you have and use them next year.
Watch this video for more ideas on how to store your leftover vegetable seeds: