How do you store seeds? Are they a jumbled mess like mine were? Take some time as you plan for gardening season to do some organization. It will save so much time and frustration later on.
Organizing Seeds
For years my seeds were just thrown in a box. So, whenever it was time to plant something, or to replant I had to dig through the mess to find what I was looking for.
I know. Not so bright.
I determined this year that I would organize this mess as soon as I had a chance. I picked up a plastic shoe box for 77 cents and got to work a few nights ago.
I had some scraps of matte board around (any stiff cardboard would work) and I cut cards with tabs that would fit into the box. I needed 30 some of them.
The cards were labeled and arranged in the box alphabetically, and then I filed my seeds. It took me about an hour. Sometimes I don’t know what takes me so long.
How about you? How do you organize your seeds?
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To learn how to build a garden that builds healthy soil, be sure to check out my eBook The Art of Gardening: Building Your Soil. You really can become a better gardener, and you really can grow healthy, nourishing produce. It’s all about the soil! Click here to buy now.
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Kristel from Healthy Frugalista says
I store them in a 2 qt screw top plastic jar in the refrigerator. They’re just piled in there with no organization. It takes up too much space, especially since it’s sharing a corner with a gallon of shea butter. No wonder my husband complains that our fridge is too small! Your post got me thinking that I should probably move them to the garage.
susanv says
Yeah, I keep mine in the garage. This is going to make things so much easier next year. IF I don’t make a mess of it!
Lisa @ Two Bears Farm says
You’ll be all set come spring!
susanv says
It’s about time!
Yolanda says
That’s really nice and I understand completely. đŸ˜€
susanv says
Thanks, Yolanda!
Jen says
I soooo need to do this. My seeds are out of control. (Like your first photo, but maybe slightly worse)
susanv says
Jen, I’ve been gardening for 40 years. You would think I would have done this sooner!
Jennifer Ray says
I organise my seeds not by name, but by the month to sow them. So come January I can just pick out all the January seeds and get busy in my potting shed. Seeds with a long sowing season, that I want a continuous crop of, I keep moving them along to the next month’s section, when I’ve sown enough that month, to remind me to sow again – at the end of their season I stick them back to the first month. If that makes sense. It works for me.
susanv says
So it’s a calendar AND a way to organize the seeds all in one. Love it!
KD Dunbar says
Yep, same here, and it works so well with my square foot gardening style. After I’ve planted the seeds for that month, I can look through what is coming up next month, so I can prepare my garden beds/planting areas a bit at a time/as needed, rather than doing the whole garden area at once. This distributes out the labor as well, and my back and knees are grateful for that small kindness!
I do have separate “by planting time” filing systems for veggies/grains, herbs and flowers, which makes it a bit faster to look through each month for a specific type of seed if I need to replant something.
Susan Vinskofski says
Such a great idea!
Jacqueline @ Deeprootsathome.com says
I need to get my summer collection of seeds cleaned up, too. I have a system that works, but I must be a procrastinator Lol Thanks for this clever idea!!
kristy @ Gastronomical Sovereignty says
so smart. like you, for the longest time, i had all my seeds shoved in a basket and semi-organized by season. that wasn’t too useful. alphabetical is much better đŸ™‚
thank you for sharing your post with us at the Wednesday Fresh Foods Link Up! i look forward to seeing what other seasonal & whole/real food posts you have for us this week! xo, kristy
Karen says
I fold my seed packets into thirds or quarters after opening and using what I need…then I rubber band like seeds together…pole beans of various varieties, greens like kale, collards and mustards…then I write on a popsicle stick what the seeds are “pole beans,” “greens” “radishes” etc… and then put the popsicle stick in the rubber banded group and file them in a wooden box, similar to what you have used, alphabetcially. Walla…
I tried to include a pic here so you could see how this looks but I was not able to ;-(
Caitlin says
This is such a smart idea, and it would definitely be an improvement from my method (wrapped in a paper napkin in a ziploc bag). Thanks for this post -I will be doing this ASAP.
Susan says
Thanks, Caitlin!
Nancy says
My filing system is based on 4 crop rotation system. (leaf, root, fruiting, and legumes). Each section is assigned a color. Seeds are then sorted into two groups, one for those started indoors and one for directly seeded vegetables. Those started indoors are stored in a 4×6 card file box. The card in front of them includes directions on when to start. the card is color coded. Direct garden seeds are sorted by the crop rotation section. I haven’t perfected the container for direct seeded crops. It took me over 20 years to come up with a system that is effective for me
Susan Vinskofski says
I love your organization skills!