I just discovered you recently with Winter Sowing. You have such contagious energy its hard not to smile when watching your videos. Of course incredibly informative as well!
Haha. You are most welcome. It really does solve one of the biggest challenges with seed packets once they are opened especially the ones where you have to tear the top and lose all the ability to close them back up.
OMG. I have watched like 5,000 seed storage videos trying to figure out a way to keep my opened seed packages from spilling everywhere and you're the FIRST to address this. The plastic baggie inside the seed packet is pure genius. THANK YOU.
@@EsthersGardeningAdventures Sometimes the solution seems so obvious but people just need that little bit of help in arriving at it. That's why your videos are so awesome!
I just ordered all these items for a steal. My friend told me about cold sewing and it is on for me. I really appreciate your content and how you are so down to earth, not fake with a whole mask of make up on your face. You are approachable and I am learning a lot from you thank you for your help.
@@EsthersGardeningAdventures I wanted to add real quick I am still working on organizing seeds this way. I ordered the wrong size envelopes, doh!! My dilemma right now is trying to figure out if all my winter sew cartons -- how often to water and how often. I most definitely do not want to overwater. I gave them a little spray after a week. I have to study each plant have sewed.
Hi Esther:) Great video. I love your idea about transferring seeds into the little plastic bags. One important reason is from m experience taking them out to the garden or Winter Sowing in my kitchen. I spilled water on the seed packets. Yikes!!! If they were in plastic, I wouldn't have had such a problem with wet seeds. I hope that this will add to the great ideas and save someone the mess:) Keep those videos coming, love you:):):)
I realized early on that Winter Sowing is actually three hobbiesnot, one. I. Collecting Seeds 2. Winter Sowing the seeds and 3. Planting the plants you sowed. I am still working on the last one.
Great idea! I think we can agree that seeds are addictive. I collect seeds too and I haven’t been the best in labeling them until last year. I was always.. "oh I'll remember what those are" until I go to plant them. LOL.
I love this and ordered plastic bags and envelopes right away. One thing I am adding is the first letter of what is on the label on the upper right corner of the envelope (i.e. B on the beans envelope) so I can quickly see where I am in the alphabet. Also, since my all of my seeds are fitting in one box right now I am color coding the envelopes on the left upper corner with a green marker for the veg/herbs and red for the flowers because those are the sharpie colors I have.😁 I will keep them separated by a divider but again quick glance tells me what section I am in and it is cheaper than hunting for colored envelopes or other fancy supplies. Another thing I am adding on the veg envelopes is the length of viability for the type of seed so I won't have to look it up all the time and it will help with deciding what I need to order new each year.
Esther I just want to thank you so much for this system! Yes, it involves a little work to set up, but wow! Seed packets from the various companies are notorious for being different, and many of them are very hard to work with. With your system, it takes the worry out of spilling seeds, and I believe it will keep them fresher longer! Working on it now! Love it!
Nice system, Esther! I like your idea of using envelopes and the bins. I have two photo storage units - one for vegetables and one for flowers. For the seeds I’m planting this year, I have a box divided by months. It’s an experiment! 😊
Ooh the month thing could be useful especially for succession planting planning...I may need to do something like that for my fall crop...but using envelopes lol
Love this system. Now I can use the photo boxes for photos. Also, we don’t buy milk or water in jugs and don’t have a cat anymore to use Tidy Cat litter jugs for winter sowing. I think I’ll give a few of these boxes a try for winter sowing
i hear you! the pain, lol !! i am in the process of outgrowing the photo box. i have two, but it's not quite right yet. i have all but the tiny zip bags (great idea btw) already on hand!
After putting my zillion seeds in order, I do not plan to buy more this year. I've got to use my stash and want to take advantage of the great varieties I have while the seeds are viable. I saved seeds from my native plants, vegetables, herbs, and flowers, and I'm excited about winter sowing. The first year I had 85% success, the second year only about 60% with many mystery seedlings due to planter error. Now I'm better organized and will label the seeds inside and outside the jugs and even on the bottom. I will take my time and clean my hands between jugs to avoid seed migration. I also trade seedlings with gardener friends. Feels like a good garden year and lucky number three for winter sowing.
Hi. Late to the party, but good ideas. I found that 5x9 manilla envelopes stack nicely in file boxes. The manilla envelopes are an expense, but some are now 25 years old. The file boxes are more spendy than the dollar store boxes used here, but are also more sturdy. Some seeds, like onions mentioned will stretch their life if stored in the freezer...and the file box won't shatter when you drop a bag of frozen foods on it. Each manilla envelope can hold quite a few little seed envelopes of small seeds like tomatoes or carrots, not as many beans. And the seed co envelopes can stay upright. The small ziplock bag thing is a great idea. I use them in a few sizes: tiny ones about 2"X2" to trade seeds like tomatoes, peppers, and some small seeds. And larger ones about 3x5 that will hold beans, or seeds l have a lot of. They are cheaper than paper coin envelopes that l used to use.
I very much !like your system. Currently I use empty pill bottles. Never thought of dumping seeds out of packet. I roll the packet and it fits inside. I like how I can pull the bottle and seeds are safe under any condition. Outside in a bag basket on ground..... My draw back is storing the pill bottles, bulky! I put painters tape and add sun, shade, frost toler.... Definitely food for thought. Good job, thanks.
Very useful. I need to orginize my seeds better and can't really afford the photo orginizer option. I'm starting to get overflow in the box I keep them in.
Très bonne idée! Mais malheureusement j’ai déjà acheté ma valise avec les petites boîtes… Ce que je trouve pratique c’est de classer par mois de culture. Mais ce que j’ai trouvé très intéressant, c’est de regrouper les Zinnia ensemble afin de mieux les retrouver! Merci!
This was enjoyable, sitting down at your table with you! The inside bag was an ‘of course, why didn’t I think’ of that’ moment. I’m glad you took the time to film your ideas. I may split each seed packet into crops, meaning batches I will plan on different weeks of the year, as I have fewer varieties and May double or triple plant varieties. I could pull just one baggy out to plant each time. Very cool.
Ester where was this video when I needed it! hahaha I did purchase those photo boxes and love them but this is a fantastic way of doing it! You are making me second guess my seed saving game! Thanks for sharing and I hope you have a fantastic 2023 season!
That's a very workable and affordable system--thanks for sharing! I need to buy some of those small clear packages to put the loose seeds in--I find way too many escapees in my storage containers.
Oh wow, after seeds all over the house, seed swaps, balled up seed saving paper towels in bags, and different containers, this was a game changer for me. YES, I found your video VERY helpful. Two boxes of envelopes and five shoeboxes later, I have my seeds sorted into veg, cool, warm annuals, winter sowing perennials and grasses / herbs / special - multi. that fit in ONE lightweight tote from Aldi. WHAT an improvement! Thanks so much Esther!
Loved this, Esther! Stored all of my seeds this way and I feel so organized and ready to get busy winter sowing! Thanks for sharing your experiences and passing them along.
Hi Ester, Great video, I LOVE this system. I've been wracking my brain, trying to come up with some type of seed storage that works...you answered all of my questions. So, I've made my amazon order, dug out my extra box of envelopes and I'm on my way to the dollar store. Thank You so much. Now, if I could just find a tablecloth like the one on your table...my life would be complete! Catch you on your next video, can hardly wait.
I really need to do this! Great idea for seed storage Esther! My seeds are in four different boxes that don't stack and they all have seeds floating around the bottom! lol
I can't believe I missed this video! Your system is very similar to mine. I too felt that the very popular photo storage containers are too bulky and nowhere near as versatile as bins. I use baggies for each category but I really like the envelopes. I had considered using envelopes - so much less plastic- but felt as if they wouldn't fit many packets in each, but that was obviously wrong! Great system!
Hi Esther! I only have a few seeds, but what a great way to get them organized for relatively cheap!! I’ll definitely be starting this to keep myself organized!
Wow! What a great seed collection 👍 I’m always so happy when I find someone from same zone & the same state! You have wonderful ideas ❤ My set up is very similar. I use plastic shoe box , envelopes - but I make labeled dividers . I don’t have nearly as many seeds. Mine aren’t in alphabetical order 😞 Thanks again.
I use 2 4” binders with photo sheets and organize alphabetically with herbs in their own section. It works well as I just flip through them. Usually can find old binders and 2 were given to me. I don’t store chunky seeds though. Maybe your system would be good for that. I store in seed safe with rechargeable dehydrator. I use paper clips on open packets. Yes, every since I had seeds flying around I went to clips. Your going to have to get 2 plots at community garden😂
Haha true. Yes that's a great option also. The only challenge for me w the folders is the seed packets can fall out if the folders get tiped upside down.
Nice. Yeah the photo boxes are nice the prices on them skyrocketed in the last few years, likely when the maker realized people wanted them for seed organization.
I did this same kind of system last year. I get my envelopes at the dollar store because they ar3 less expensive. And if I have more than one variety of something, I do luke you do and put them all in one envelope but I write on the outside which varieties are in it. That saves me from digging through the “part one” and “part two” envelopes looking for the one I want.
Great video! One modification to your system somene could do if they were lazy is to just use plastic sandwich bags in place of the tiny plastic bags and envelopes and you wouldn't need to label since you can see through the bag. This isn't as good as your system but it is better than nothing. This way you'd just put all your Amaranth seeds in one bag, close it and place the seeds in the box in alphabetical order. .But you'd still run the risk of having different Amaranth seeds spill out into the sandwich bag. At least they wouldn't be at the bottom of the storage container though.
I just discovered you - I love your enthusiasm, your presentation and your knowledge! Thank you for this wealth of information! Question - do you do indoor winter gardening?
Thank you! I haven't done much indoor gardening in the winter (besides houseplants) although I do sprouts sometimes and I do start some seeds indoors but a very small share.
Adding the envelope to me system makes it much more efficient… thanks for posting.. one question I have is…where do you store the cases? Any need for refrigeration ?
No need to refrigerate. I keep mine in my TV cabinet under the TV. Trick is to keep out of direct sun and in temperature controlled area...not in unheated shed for example
Happy New Year Esther! I miss seeing you and your lovely happy attitude. You really gave some awesome tips here for seed storing. I definitely need to do a better job in this category. Question for you; where are you storing these clear containers when you have finished planting from that container? So many videos always show seeds stored in jars inside the refrigerator but I have not enough room for all that. Currently they are in the house which is warm and now I am thinking I need to move them outside in the garage and let them get cold again and hope they are still good. Any thoughts on where to store them? Thank you and I look forward to the 2023 growing season with you.
Storing the seeds in a temperature controlled house out of direct sun is fine. If you freeze them you have to let them air dry and thaw so they don't create condensation. I usually keep them in my TV stand under the TV. It's relatively dark there.
I don't have near as many seeds as you. I actually just file my seed packets in photo protectors sheets, and place them in a binder. I would love have more, but don't seeds expire? I'm a bit green when it comes to seeds. I'd love to get more, but as it is, there isn't enough land or hours in the day to grow what I have now.
I do can some food. I'm still relatively new at it but that's a great video idea. I will do that this spring when I get enough beets to can. Thank you!
I haven't had an issue with humidity yet. I've been using the bags for about 2 years so time will tell. You could use small paper seed packets inside of the larger seed packet as an alternative. I used to do that and it helped although some seeds still found a way to escape on occasion
😊Thank-you so much for sharing this idea. I am still in the process of organizing my seed stash but it is the best idea I have seen so far. I have tried a few other methods. I was just using dividers in my seed storage box most recently but I love that I can just grab out an envelope, look through, find what I need and put the rest in the envelope. Plus the original envelopes won’t get destroyed after being opened. Two thing I do in addition to your wonderful idea: 1. Use a small funnel to pour seeds into the bag. (I have some issues with my left hand and fine motor skills. 2. Whenever I get new seed packets I write the year with a marker on the seed packet - easier for me at a glance than looking for dates in small print on the envelope. Have a great day! Thanks again.
Good afternoon Ester, I have a question that I feel you will be able to answer, I ordered 2 bushes the clethra Alnifolia ruby spice. I understood the order would ship in the spring but they arrived 2 days ago they appear to be rooted cuttings from a larger plant, my question is do I need to protect them from my weather I live in 6a and these plants are a native type of plant or should I put them inside until winter is done? Or can I put them into a clear tote? The stems look as though they have been outside.
