Frozen Seeds

I used common sense when storing the seeds in the freezer... there was no way moisture could get into the bags.

Both frozen seeds have germ'ed quicker than the 3 that were defrosted first. This may also be due to how long I left them defrosting for. It was a good 8-9 hours, lol.

At least this proves that there is no need to defrost your seeds first. straight out the freezer and onto the germ plate. These guys have been frozen for months and all have popped relatively quickly. All good strong seeds, prop's to Nirvana. There's a big fat one, that I just know is going to produce many clones. Here's a pic'. She's bottom left with the long tail.

skunkushybrid said:

Both frozen seeds have germ'ed quicker than the 3 that were defrosted first. This may also be due to how long I left them defrosting for. It was a good 8-9 hours, lol.

At least this proves that there is no need to defrost your seeds first. straight out the freezer and onto the germ plate. These guys have been frozen for months and all have popped relatively quickly. All good strong seeds, prop's to Nirvana. There's a big fat one, that I just know is going to produce many clones. Here's a pic'. She's bottom left with the long tail.

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I've always frozen my seeds to store them but the trick is it make shure there dry not fresh.If there really fresh like straight off the plant they have too much water in them and they turn black and mushey and smell bad and use a frost free freezer.

anyone got anything else to add to this old thread? googled it and checked other forums and opinion is about 70/30 for freezing seeds, with common sense and packaging precautions obviously, so can they be frozen for long term?

I tried to germ some seeds I stuck in a freezer a few months back and almost every single one of them cracked open, pushed out the taproot (which was black) and that was all she wrote. They'd stay in sprout phase until they died. Anyone else have this issue?

How about ........... drop said seed in glass of room temp water overnight then put in cup of dirt.

Seriously.... it’s not a rump roast.

I know it's an old thread but how about the defrost setting on the microwave?

xtsho said:

I know it's an old thread but how about the defrost setting on the microwave?

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For real? I think this would spell certain death for the seed. Maybe I'm wrong though. Stick one in there and see.

Neubieauto said:

For real? I think this would spell certain death for the seed. Maybe I'm wrong though. Stick one in there and see.

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I was joking. I hope nobody actually took that seriously and is standing in front of their microwave with a container of frozen seeds.

xtsho said:

I was joking. I hope nobody actually took that seriously and is standing in front of their microwave with a container of frozen seeds.

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Lol I thought it was a joke. But hell I'm always up to learn something new lol.

Just store the seeds in the fridge sealed with a desiccant and it will get the same response when you take them out to germinate them.

xtsho said:

I know it's an old thread but how about the defrost setting on the microwave?

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That would be literally "popping" seeds, lol

Don’t forget a light scuffing with your coffee grinder .... works every time .

I have a sprouted seed, stem growing daily but she will not pop her cap off and leaf out. Been under a light in a small peat pot for four days. Too tight for helping it to release .any input?

I did a freeze experiment a few years ago with several types of bag seed and the seeds i froze several times seem to germinate better than the seeds i left alone. I did everything youre not supposed to. I froze and thawed seeds out in the air several times a day, left them in the freezer for a few weeks then left them on the counter out in the sun and etc. After the abuse i gave them I did a control germination test of 20 along with 20 seeds i abused. Outcome= Freezing and thawing cycles did not effect germination.

I froze seeds for a long time and never had any issues. Anymore I just keep them in the fridge with a desiccant. Most of my seeds haven't been sticking around more than a year or two, so I don't see the need to freeze lately. I do think stable freezing temps is the way to go long term.

@shackleferd forgot to quote you.

desertdiva said:

I have a sprouted seed, stem growing daily but she will not pop her cap off and leaf out. Been under a light in a small peat pot for four days. Too tight for helping it to release .any input?

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Take a little dropper or pipette and put a drop of water right on the stuck shell. When the drop is gone, do it again. And keep doing it until it's soft enough to slide right off without damag. I don't leave it right under the light when I'm doing this either, it could burn the lil guy.

shackleferd said:

I did a freeze experiment a few years ago with several types of bag seed and the seeds i froze several times seem to germinate better than the seeds i left alone. I did everything youre not supposed to. I froze and thawed seeds out in the air several times a day, left them in the freezer for a few weeks then left them on the counter out in the sun and etc. After the abuse i gave them I did a control germination test of 20 along with 20 seeds i abused. Outcome= Freezing and thawing cycles did not effect germination.

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Hey man love this explanation and I’ve been freaking out lately. I bagged my whole collection of seeds up (probably about 50-75 packs at this stage) and threw em in the freezer. I’ve been sick about this as before I did it a read a couple different breeder sites who say it’s ok. I have a move in 2 months and am really concerned. People were saying risks of Mold, cell walls rupturing due to the cold, that their friends have lost significant collections doing this yadda yadda yadda. What do you suggest is the safest bet to preserve my collection given your experience? I don’t intend to remove them until then to play it safe but wanted to know your stance as everybody seems to tell me I’m screwed.

desertdiva said:

I have a sprouted seed, stem growing daily but she will not pop her cap off and leaf out. Been under a light in a small peat pot for four days. Too tight for helping it to release .any input?

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You can also keep her under a humidity dome to keep the seed husk and the sticky membrane under it moist and soft. They're more likely to come off that way.
As to putting seeds in the freezer, that's what a bunch of people said to do with hot pepper seeds too. As long as they're dried out first it won't damage them, and germination rates are higher than seeds that sat on a shelf for 9 months waiting for the planting season to come around again. Just don't do it with seeds fresh off the plant.

CanadianJim said:

You can also keep her under a humidity dome to keep the seed husk and the sticky membrane under it moist and soft. They're more likely to come off that way.
As to putting seeds in the freezer, that's what a bunch of people said to do with hot pepper seeds too. As long as they're dried out first it won't damage them, and germination rates are higher than seeds that sat on a shelf for 9 months waiting for the planting season to come around again. Just don't do it with seeds fresh off the plant.

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That’s good news man, I’ve been reading mixed info. These are all seeds from breeders so I’m hoping that makes a difference they’re definitely not fresh seeds. Be interested to hear @sheckleferds advice as well. Hopefully I only have to thaw them out once but I’m thinking of getting a cooler going for the couple hours of my move to ensure minimal problems