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Question on storing seeds - warmth

theend00theend00 Posts: 48
in Problem solving
Hi ! I am here again to ask another newbie question , so please be kind :P 

My mother has been storing seeds bought from Amazon , in their original airtight containers , in the kitchen. The house has no central heating and so the seeds are exposed to quite cold to quite warm room temperatures at different times of the day. 

Basically the question is this , despite the airtight containers and the low humidity, will the varying temperature from warm to cool harm the seeds ? They have been like this for 4-6 months. Is it too late to save them by moving them elsewhere? 

Thank you very much for your patience and expertise :3
John 
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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I don't think daily fluctuations are good for seeds so try moving them to a cooler room.

    I keep precious seeds in the fridge.   Other seeds are kept outside in an outhouse which has stone walls and a tiled roof so they get warm and cold gradually with the seasons but not every day. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • theend00theend00 Posts: 48
    Oh dear :( That's not encouraging. I will move them to the back of the fridge. These are all wildflower varieties, no hybrids. Corncockle, Cornflower , Jacob's ladder etc. 

    They've been in the kitchen since July. Is it probable that they have died ?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Most of those are quite tough, so you may find most are ok, but if you can find somewhere more suitable as Obelixx has suggested, that will help. Many seeds need periods of cold, followed by warmth, to germinate correctly as they would in nature.
    It's also better to have them in paper rather than airtight containers. Envelopes,paper bags etc.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I keep all my seeds, either bought or collected, in a cardboard box in the spare bedroom, heat fluctuates when radiator is on or off.
    Makes  no difference, they’re all ok come Spring. 
    Maybe your mum has always done this, has she had a garden before? 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • theend00theend00 Posts: 48
    Well I can do that ! So envelopes and back of fridge , got it . If the radiator has done no damage then that makes me relieved that there is some hope :grin:

    My mum hasn't really done gardening seriously largely because she doesn't have the time , and unfortunately she has earned a bit of a reputation for killing stuff . I'm alright at gardening but completely ignorant :tongue:

    If she can come home from work and find something nice and most of all alive , then I'll be happy 


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    theend00 said:


    If she can come home from work and find something nice and most of all alive , then I'll be happy 


    Just making the effort is a lovely thing to do for her    :)
    If all else fails, you can go out and buy a plant and pretend you grew it  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    edited December 2018
    Backing up what everyone else has said - paper bags or envelopes in an airtight container (tupperware box is traditional :wink: ) in the fridge. Here's the RHS advice: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=675#section-4
    Having said that, I've had successful germination from seeds kept for far longer in entirely inappropriate conditions (ie: I've forgotten about them) many times, so don't assume the worst!
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I have never put any seeds in a  fridge, if they need a cold spell for germination, sow at the correct time and put them outside, Nature will provide the cold spell. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • theend00theend00 Posts: 48
    I'll let you know if they have survived ! haha I sense it has been prudent to buy native (ish) wildflowers rather than delicate hybrids. I'll give them a couple of weeks more and then plant out in Jan or Feb 
  • tessagardenbarmytessagardenbarmy Posts: 346
    Mine are in envelopes  inside a plastic box with  tight fitting  lid in the fridge. But don't  worry  you can test to see if the seed is still viable.  Place a wet paper towel on a tray and put a few seeds of each type in a row across the towel.  Leave them in a warm room and keep the towel moist. After a week or so you should  be able to see if they've  germinated and are still okay.
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