Frequently Asked Questions
What does GMO mean?
GMO means “genetically modified organism”. GMOs have been found to have human genes, animal genes, insecticides, carcinogens, bacteria and viruses spliced right into the dna of vegetables. In short, I believe GMOs are very dangerous. Try washing that off your veggies or just buy a survivor seed pack.
What does open pollinated mean?
Seeds from open-pollinated varieties produce plants and fruit that are identical to their parent.
What is a hybrid seed?
A hybrid seed, generally speaking, is a seed whose parents were crossbred to produce seed for only one growing season. These plants produce bigger fruit than most open pollinated seeds but their seeds will not reproduce true to type. Meaning when you plant the seeds from the hybrid plant you may get a plant that has only the mother plant's attributes which is only half the equation and, vice versa, you may get a plant that has only the father plant's attributes which are missing the mother plant's qualities. So you really shouldn't rely upon hybrids. Note, there is another kind of hybrid which is one that has been bred naturally to produce a consistent plant. We are not talking about this kind of hybrid here.
How long can I store my seeds?
Five years in a cool closet is a safe bet. Onions and radish seeds may be shorter than the rest. The lower the temp you store your seeds at, the longer they will stay viable.
Where can I store my seeds?
Any cool, dark, dry, place will do.
Can I store my seeds in the refrigerator?
Yes and it will dramatically increase the life of your seeds if your seeds are properly dried first. Always allow seeds to come to room temperature before using them and do not take them outside unless you intend to use them. Cold seeds draw moisture to the seeds from the air and there is a lot of moisture outside. Moisture is the enemy of seed storage.
Can I store my seeds in the freezer?
Yes, but I suggest you put the survivor seed pack in a couple of heavy duty zip lock freezer bags first to protect the foil pack from punctures as the bag is very vapor and moisture resistant but it is not very puncture resistant. Store the seeds in the coldest part of the freezer. If you store it in a place where the seeds are able to thaw then freeze again, over and over, this will kill the seeds. Make sure that your freezer doesn't kick on above freezing temperature as this will allow seeds to thaw, then seeds will freeze again when freezer is brought back to the set temperature. Make sure freezer is set to always be below freezing. This may mean you need to set freezer temp. at, say, 15 degrees so there will never be a thaw. Seeds when stored properly in the freezer can last a decade or far beyond.
Can I store my seed pack in the freezer or fridge after I open it using the zip lock only to seal it?
You may store them at room temperature only after heat seal is breached using the zip lock. DO NOT STORE SEEDS IN FRIDGE OR FREEZER IF HEAT SEAL IS BREACHED.
How do I refreeze or refrigerate my seeds after I've opened the foil pack?
Put seeds in a brown lunch bag with some moisture absorbers (not oxygen absorbers) then put them into a freezer safe canning jar then let stand for one or two weeks in a cool dry place. This will allow moisture absorbers to bring seeds to around 8% moisture. This is important as if you have too much moisture in the seeds when you freeze them they will certainly be damaged. I recommend clay moisture absorbers. They are called clay desiccants. You can find them on the web. Buy them from someone you trust and not an auction site thats just dumping old stock. Do not worry about using too many clay moisture absorbers they will not over dry seeds as they stop drawing moisture at around 8 percent moisture. If you want a super sealed seed bank, dip the top ¼ of the canning jar in paraffin wax cap and all let dry, then store.
Does the seed pack come with growing instructions?
No, because every part of the country is different you should go to your college county extension websites and download the growing instructions specific to your state. Print at least two copies and use a laser printer as the print will not run if it gets wet. Put one copy with the seeds and one copy in a safe place. If you don't have a printer or a computer, email me with your address and I will send you two copies of instructions specific to your area with your order.
How do I collect my own seeds?
You will need to get a book on that as every plant is different in this regard. I highly recommend “Seed to Seed” this book can be found on the web, used book stores and ebay for a song.
What if my garden space is limited?
I have three words for that question “Square foot gardening” its a wonderful book on raised bed gardening I have twenty 4'x8' square foot gardens in my yard I love them. I recommend this book for people with large yards too. Note, the author recommends a mix of soil that can be expensive but you can change it up to fit your budget and if you turn the soil and fertilize with a good manure or compost every year you will do well.
What if I have bad soil for gardening?
Square foot garden is the answer, again. With raised bed gardens you use whatever soil you want so you can grow a garden practically anywhere.
What if I have questions about gardening?
Call your local county extension. They are usually knowledgeable and eager to help. Also there are many gardening websites with forums where you may ask specific questions, and those old lurking salty pro gardeners are always glad to help you and usually have a good story to boot.
Will I be protected from food shortages and dangerous GMOs with the survivor seed pack?
Yes, but you need to start growing food now as it takes a couple years to learn how to be a good gardener. There is way more to it than sticking seeds in the ground. You have to know how to combat wild animals, domestic animals, insects, and plant diseases. You will not learn this over night, but once you do you will be the master of your food supply and someone people will look up to in your neck of the woods.
