Goodwill Community Garden
Many people purchase new seeds every year because they don’t know if the ones
left from previous years are still good. There is an easy way to determine this. First,
dampen a thick paper towel with warm water and spread 10 seeds on half the towel. Then
fold the paper towel over and place it in a sealed plastic bag. Use a marker to write the
name of the seed and the date. Place the bag in a warm place such as the top of a
refrigerator. After two weeks count the number of seeds that have germinated and
calculate the percentage. The lower the percentage, the more thickly the seeds need to be
sown. This method will help you determine which seeds you need to purchase for the
season.
Of course the way that seeds are stored each year will also affect how long they
stay dormant and viable. At the end of the season seal the seed packets or place seeds in a
paper envelope with their information written on it. Make a small packet out of tissue and
1 tablespoon of powdered milk. The powdered milk will help to absorb any moisture.
Place the seed and milk packets into a glass jar and seal the jar. The jar should be kept in
a cool dark place. The back of the refrigerator is ideal. Replace the powdered milk packet
halfway through the winter and the seeds will be ready for planting in the spring.
