Seed Storage

Storage recommendations and detailed information on best‑before dates for seeds

Seeds are living organisms, and each species has its own "lifespan" during which it develops its full germination potential. To ensure optimal germination, proper storage determines the success of your sowing.

Improper storage reduces the germination rate of seeds, resulting in a lower germination rate. Fungi can spread and prematurely age seeds. Moisture, warmth, and oxygen stimulate the metabolism and consume valuable reserve nutrients that your seedlings will need later.

With targeted conditions, you can virtually halt seed metabolism and preserve germination until the date printed on the seed packet. This way, you always have vigorous seeds on hand and lay the foundation for a bountiful harvest.

Store seeds at home

To maintain the species-specific germination capacity, we recommend the following storage conditions at home:

Store in a dry place: Humidity promotes mold and premature germination.
Store in a cool place: 0°C to 10°C is generally ideal. The colder the temperature, the longer the seeds remain viable.
Low humidity: An ambient humidity of 20-35% is optimal.
Store in a dark place: Light deprives seeds of valuable nutrients and reduces the germination rate.
Airtight containers: Glass or plastic containers protect against moisture and oxygen.

Airtight jars or storage containers with a tightly closing lid are ideally suited for storing seed packets. To store seeds for a longer period, a bag of silica gel can additionally be placed inside. Silica gel sachets can be purchased in pharmacies, drugstores or online and ensure that the environment remains dry. The gel can be dried again at temperatures between 80 and 100 °C, making it reusable. Anyone who has the possibility can also vacuum‑seal the seeds and store them in a light‑impermeable package.

Special features of storage

Tropical plants are an exception when it comes to storage temperatures, as they originate from regions with consistently warm climates and are best stored at an ambient temperature of 15-25°C and a humidity of 30-60%. Because their seeds are not adapted to cold, they can be damaged or significantly lose their germination capacity at temperatures that are too low. Even in a dormant state, tropical seeds often have a higher metabolic activity than most of our known species. They therefore require milder conditions to avoid aging or degenerating.

Best before date

There is no legal requirement to print a best‑before date on seed.
Since germination depends on many factors – such as variety, harvest year, drying, storage conditions and natural lifespan – a general best‑before date would not be reliable from our point of view.

That’s why we took the initiative and developed our own practical guideline.
It enables you to assess the expected lifespan and germination capacity of each species individually.

On the back of our seed packets – directly below the harvest date – you will find the note “Viability”. This information describes the species‑specific lifespan and germination capacity of the seeds.

The harvest date is printed at the top on the back of each seed packet.
With proper storage, you can easily determine from these two pieces of information how long the seeds are likely to remain viable.