How should flower seeds be stored? An introduction to common storage methods
Good storage conditions and scientific processing and storage management methods can extend the life of seeds, improve the sowing quality of seeds, and maintain seed vigor. Conversely, if seed storage work is not done well, at best the seed viability and vigor decline and the germination rate drops so low that the seeds cannot be used for planting; at worst the entire warehouse of seeds heats up, becomes moldy and infested with insects, cannot be sold, and cannot be used as food for humans or livestock, causing major economic losses. Below, the editor introduces some storage methods and tips for flower seeds.
I. What are the commonly used storage methods for flower seeds?
1. Dry storage method.
Most flower seeds can be stored by this method. First dry the seeds, remove impurities, and put them into bags sewn from gauze, such as those of scarlet sage, cockscomb, and so on. Do not put them into glass bottles or plastic bags, as these are airtight and affect seed respiration. The seed bags can be hung in a cool, ventilated place indoors, keeping the room temperature at 5°C-10°C.
2. Moist storage method.
The seeds of flowers such as lotus, peach, plum blossom, rose, nandina, and water lily have a high moisture content and can only maintain their vitality when stored in a high-humidity environment. Storing them moist in a low-temperature, damp place can replace pre-sowing treatment, and they will sprout when sown directly.
There are 3 commonly used moist storage methods:
① Water storage method
Put the seeds in bags and place them in running water for storage. The place where the seeds are stored must be clean, with no silt or rotting grass. Surround the seeds with wooden stakes to prevent them from being washed away by the water. The seeds of aquatic flowers such as lotus, water lily, and water hyacinth, as well as those of oak species, are suitable for the water storage method. The water storage method can only be used in places where the river water does not freeze in winter; otherwise it easily causes freezing damage to the seeds.
② Wet sand burial method
Bury the seeds in wet sand for storage. The volume of the wet sand should be about 3 times the volume of the seeds. The sand should not be too wet, and the temperature should preferably be controlled at 2°C-3°C. If the temperature is too high, the seeds easily sprout and become moldy; if the temperature is too low, the seeds suffer freezing damage.
The sand storage time varies with the flower species. For example, the storage period for rhododendron seeds is 30-40 days, for begonia seeds it is 50-60 days, for smoke tree and elm-leaved spirea seeds it is 70-90 days, and wintersweet seeds can be stored for more than 100 days.
Seeds of peony and Chinese peony, etc., collected after harvest, can be placed in low-temperature wet sand at 0°C-5°C. Under natural conditions, such seeds have a dormant period and undergo after-ripening after dormancy. Take them out about one month before sowing and sow them in spring. This method should not be used for small seeds, because they are very difficult to pick out from the sand.
For corms, bulbs, and other seed bulbs such as caladium, canna, and dahlia, the underground stems and bulbs should be dug out of the soil in time before frost, dried for 2-3 days, and then placed indoors in a low-temperature, airy, humid place and stored covered with wet sand. Note, however, that the covering sand should not be too wet, to prevent mold and rot. The room temperature should be kept at 5°C-10°C; too high and they easily sprout, too low and they easily suffer freezing damage.
③ Pit storage method
Dig a pit 1-1.5 m deep in a shady spot with high terrain, dry soil, and loose texture; the length and width depend on the quantity of seeds. Spread a layer of stones or coarse sand at the bottom of the pit, then pile up one layer of coarse sand and one layer of seeds. The sand should be moist enough that it forms a ball when squeezed in the hand but does not release water. When 20 cm from the ground, stop adding seeds and cover with soil instead. To prevent the seeds from becoming moldy, place a bundle of rice straw or sorghum stalks upright every 1 m to facilitate ventilation and heat dissipation.
II. What tips are there for storing flower seeds?
1. Clean the warehouse. Remove garbage as well as chemical fertilizers and pesticides from the warehouse, and lay felt paper, etc., in the warehouse as a moisture barrier to reduce the ground moisture absorbed by the seeds. Dilute 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate and spray it, keep doors and windows tightly closed for 48-72 h (hours), then ventilate for 24 h (hours). Do not fumigate the warehouse.
2. Reasonable stacking. There are many varieties of flower seeds of differing grades, but generally the quantity of seeds is not large. In the warehouse, they should be placed on racks about 50 cm from the walls and 50 cm above the ground, with labels indicating their position, quantity, packaging, etc., to prevent mixing.
3. Timely ventilation. Seed respiration produces a great deal of heat, and timely ventilation can lower the temperature and dissipate moisture. Generally, the principle is "ventilate on clear days, close up on rainy days, do not ventilate on snowy days; when dripping water freezes it is all right to ventilate; open early and close late, open less at noon; do not open when there is fog at night." Natural ventilation is mostly used; where conditions permit, mechanical ventilation can be used.
4. Check frequently. The warehouse should be inspected promptly, and after the seeds pass the summer or winter, their moisture content and germination rate should be tested. Set up temperature and humidity meters at multiple points in different parts of the warehouse, appoint a person to measure at fixed times, and keep records. Be sure to maintain a low-temperature, low-humidity environment for flower seed storage, to prevent the seeds from becoming moldy or the germination rate from decreasing.