Seed Selection & Storage

1. Seed Selection & Storage
Presented by
The Seed Keeper Company
Carol Niec and Kerrie Rosenthal

2. The Seed Keeper Company: Carol & Kerrie
• Owners of The Seed Keeper Company
• Founders of The Seed Keeper Project
• Our products are available at fine garden
centers across the U.S. and in Canada
• Seed Keeper Kits selected as show
favorites by Independent Garden Center
Show attendees and Garden Writers of
America reporter, Katie Elzer-Peters
• Most of all, we’re gardeners like you!
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3. Seed Selection and Storage
Things to know before
you grow:
•What is my Hardiness
Zone
•Do I have a last
Planning and Plotting Your Garden
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frost date?
•How long is my growing
season?
•What kind of soil do I
have?
•How much sun do I get?
•How big will my plants
be?
•Where is my water
source?

4. Seed Selection and Storage
Get Into Your Zone
How the New map differs from the
previous 1990 map:
• Internet friendly! New map has a
Geographic Information System-based
interactive format
•Two new Zones! Introducing Zone
12 (50°-60°) and Zone 13 (60°-70°)
divided into A & B Fahrenheit zones.
2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
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• Some boundaries have changed,
check to see if your Zone has!
• Zones are 5-degree half-zone
warmer due to the increased data
over a longer time and more weather
stations.
• Temps affected by land formations
(lakes, mountains) have added to
more accurate numbers.

5. Seed Selection & Storage
What is the difference?
Hardiness Zone
Map
Frost Zone Map Last Frost Date
•Prepared by
USDA based on
•Shows average day
of last spring frost.
•Important for
knowing when to
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Other countries also have hardiness
zone maps.
average coldest
temperatures
•Helps
determine your
zone for plant
selection
•Broader in scope
start plants
•Dates can vary
and are
approximate

6. Seed Selection & Storage
How Long is Your Growing Season?
•Identify your Zone from Hardiness
Zone Map
•Make sure seed pack has your zone
listed.
•Seeds may need to be started
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Make plans around your last Frost Date
several weeks prior to your last
frost date.
•Extend growing season by planting
cool weather crops and flowers in
early spring and fall.
•In cool climates, with the right
lights and sun exposure, you can
add another growing season
indoors.

7. Seed Selection & Storage
What type of soil do you have?
•Three types of soil:
•Clay soil
•Sandy Soil
•Loamy Soil
•Grab and squeeze
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•Do you have worms?
•What is your Ph?
• 6 to 7 score is neutral
•Ph kits available at
garden centers

8. Seed Selection & Storage
Sun Exposure
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The amount of sun and shade your growing area gets determines what is best to grow.

9. Seed Selection & Storage
How BIG will I be when I grow up??
•Check width and height of
mature plant on seed pack
•Air circulation - Veggies and
flowers need room to breathe,
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prevents molding for veggies
and overcrowding for flowers
•Vining plants need room, plan
for trellis or space
recommended
•Plan appropriate room in your
containers.

10. Types of Seeds
Seed Selection & Storage
•Annual
•Biennial
•Perennial
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•Heirloom
•Organic
•Native Seeds

11. Seed Selection & Storage
Annuals
•Last one growing season
•Known for color
•True annuals set no further
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Geraniums & Impatiens
Photo Courtesy of Kylee Baumle
seeds
•What is an annual depends on
your zone
•Examples: impatiens, wax
begonia and petunia

12. Seed Selection & Storage
Biennial • Two seasons of growth.
• First season -
grow from seed, form
vegetation and strong
roots and store energy
for next year’s growth .
• Second season fruit or
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Foxgloves
flowers form and plant
goes to seed.
• Examples :
Flowers: primrose, dianthus,
marigolds
Veggies: carrots, parsley and
celery

13. Seed Selection & Storage
Perennial
Spoon Daisy Whirligig What is a perennial?
•Return from root stock
vs. re-seeding
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•Herbaceous perennials
die back to the ground in
colder climates
•All perennials not hardy
in all zones
•Examples: daisies, mums
and peonies

14. Seed Selection & Storage
Heirloom Seeds
What is an heirloom?
•Many definitions
•Open pollination
•End of WWII
•1951—Widespread
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Photo courtesy of Brenda Haas
introduction of hybrids
•Seeds handed down through
generations
•Well adapted and resistant
•Save these seeds!
•Great way to experience history

15. Seed Selection & Storage
Organic Seeds
• The Organic Food Production Act of
1990 defines organic seed as
“produced and handled without the
use of synthetic chemicals.”
Prohibited substances and chemicals
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• cannot be used on the land three years
before harvest.
• Regulates and certifies organic
growing operations.
• Important to know your organic
seeds come from a trusted grower.

16. Seed Selection & Storage
Native Seeds
•Native plants have
thrived in a particular
area for thousands of
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years.
•Movements afoot to
restore native plants.
Example: Wildflowers

17. Seed Selection & Storage
Seed Lingo
Hybrid & Non-Hybrid
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Offspring resulting from two distinct
individuals.
•Hybridization can create desirable traits:
• Heavy yields •Plant uniformity
• Disease resistance
•Seeds should not be saved
•Higher cost
Produce plants true to parents due to
no mingling of genes.
•Also know as heirloom seeds
•Cost efficient for gardeners because you
can save seeds and plant year after year

18. Seed Selection & Storage
Seed Lingo
Determinate Indeterminate
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Grows in contained bush form Vining plant, needs lots of room to grow

19. Seed Selection & Storage
Anatomy of a Seed Pack
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20. Seed Selection & Storage
Anatomy of a Seed Pack
Common & Botanical Names
Plant Description & Uses
Planting Instructions
Sun Exposure
Year Packed
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Planting Depth
Plant Spacing
Mature Plant Size
Sell By Date
Country of Origin

21. Seed Lingo
Seed Selection & Storage
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22. Benefits of Starting From
Seed
•Stronger and healthier plants
•Variety is endless
Seed Selection & Storage
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•Value and savings
•Personal achievement
•Smaller carbon footprint
•Better for you!!
Peterson Garden Project

23. Seed Selection & Storage
Organizing your seeds
saves time and money!!
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The way you store seeds is very important and really easy!

24. Seed Viability
Seed Selection & Storage
How Long do Seeds Last?
Knowing helps you decide
how many to purchase or
save.
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25. Seed Viability
Seed Selection & Storage
How to test for seed viability:
1. Take a paper towel sheet
2. Place 10 seeds one inch apart on sheet
3. Moisten seeds and paper towel with water but not so it
is dripping wet, spray bottles work well
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4. Fold paper towel in half over seeds two times
5. Place paper towel in a re-sealable plastic bag
6. Place bag with seeds in warm area, 70° to 75°, away
from direct sun which can cause seeds to overheat
7. After 24 to 48 hours, germination should begin
8. If 5 out of the 10 seeds germinate then you may have
to plant twice as many seeds to get 10 healthy plants.

26. Seed Selection & Storage
Three Components of Seed Storage
Temperature Humidity Light
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27. Seed Selection & Storage
Packaging for Storage
What to Remember
•Most important that seeds are
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completely dry
•Packages are clearly labeled with:
• Plant name
• date packed
•mature size of plant
•sowing instructions

28. To Refrigerate or Freeze
Seeds?
A very good question
Seed Selection & Storage
•Your answer will depend on your preference with
consideration to your climate
•Experts say freezing can extend seed life up to 10 years
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•If you refrigerate or freeze your seeds use
desiccant or silica gel packs to absorb any
excess moisture
•Tip: Make your own desiccant packs by
filling small squares of fine mesh fabric with
powdered milk or rice. Tie off with twine.

29. Links and resources you may find helpful:
Independent Garden Centers– loaded with professionals who know much about
gardening
Garden Clubs
Botanical Gardens
Cooperative Extension Services
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http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/index.html
USDA Zone Finder
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2012/120125.htm
#gardenchat – a weekly Tweetchat where gardeners gather to share information.
http://www.bggarden.com/gardenchat

30. Where to buy Seeds
Local Garden Centers
Baker Creek Seeds rareseeds.com/
BBB Seed www.bbbseed.com/
Botanical Interests www.botanicalinterests.com
Burpee Seeds www.burpee.com/
Harris Seeds www.harrisseeds.com/
Johnny’s Selected Seeds www.johnnyseeds.com/
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Jung Seed www.jungseed.com/
Park Seed www.parkseed.com
Renee’s Garden www.reneesgarden.com/
Seed Savers Exchange www.seedsavers.org/
Territorial Seed www.territorialseed.com/
Terroir Seeds www.underwoodgardens.com/
There are many, many more fine seed companies– this is just a
sampling!!

31. The Seed Keeper Company
Thanks to Corona Tools and Chris Sabbarese
Special Thanks for use of photography:
Kylee Baumle of Our Little Acre -- http://ourlittleacre.com/
Brenda Haas of BG Garden and #gardenchat–
www.bggarden.com/
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Follow us on Twitter: @SeedKeeperCo
Find us on Facebook: The Seed Keeper Company
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Seed-Keeper-Company/377513653435
The Seed Keeper Project:
https://seedkeepercompany.com/The_Seed_Keeper_Project.html
www.SeedKeeperCompany.com

32. The Seed Keeper Company
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Making gardening easier!
www.SeedKeeperCompany.com