How To Safely Store Bulbs And Seeds In A Storage Unit
Storing bulbs and seeds between growing seasons is a great way to save money for many growers. You get a stable environment to house your seeds, and you don't have to pay the cost of a new building up front. However, seeds and bulbs have specific needs that must be addressed so they can be placed into storage properly. Knowing your seeds and bulbs needs and how to address them will help you to store them safely.
The Drier The Better
Humidity affects the longevity of your seeds the most. Your goal is to keep them cool and dry. In order to keep your seeds cool and dry using a climate-controlled storage unit will typically work the best. These storage units aren't prone to the same fluctuations in humidity and temperature as a normal storage unit.
You should make sure all seeds are cleaned and free of debris before storage. Then, depending on whether you have oily or starchy seeds, you will have to dry them to an appropriate moisture percentage before storage.
- Oily seeds require an 11 percent moisture content.
- Starchy seeds require a 14 percent moisture content.
- Seed storage of more than a year requires a moisture level of 4 to 6 percent for most seed varieties.
Once your seeds have been cleaned and dried, they should be stored in seed bags and labeled with the contents and the date. If moisture or pests are a concern when storing, you should apply pesticides or fungicides to the seeds before placing them in the seed bags.
A Note On Bulbs
Some bulbs require a cold period before they can thrive the next year. For example, onion plants become an onion set the first year before growing to a full onion the next season. They should be dug up, dried, and then placed in a non-climate-controlled storage unit.
Why? A non-climate-controlled storage unit will allow the bulbs to go through a cold period they require. Moisture levels can still be a concern in a non-climate-controlled storage unit, but you can still allow them to maintain a low moisture level by using burlap or another type of breathable bag.
Talk To Your Storage Unit Provider
You should talk to your storage unit provider before storing seeds and bulbs in your storage unit. Some storage units have rules about storing seeds, bulbs, and plants because they could rot and attract pests to the unit.
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