Storing seeds
I’ve found that home centers are selling seeds labeled “heirloom” now. If I buy these seeds and vacuum pack them, will they last long term and for how long?
Michael Setterquist
Friendship, Wisconsin
Yeah, I’ve noticed that the big seed companies are climbing on the heirloom bandwagon. Heirloom seeds are “in” now and therefore more saleable than in the past at big box stores. I love heirloom, open pollinated varieties, but one caution is that many of the heirloom varieties sold by the big box stores are, in reality, just old cheaper varieties. True, they’re open pollinated, but often you can do much better by buying more tasty, more productive, and nicer varieties from companies who specialize in heirloom seeds such as Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Yes, you can vacuum pack the seeds. To get the longest storage life, freeze them in an airtight package or store them in the back of the refrigerator. Otherwise, store them in a dark, cool spot in your house. Most seeds remain viable for at least several years, most longer than that. But like long-term storage foods, it really pays to regularly use and rotate your seeds so you don’t end up counting on really old seeds. Some will not be viable and others will have a much lower germination rate. Onions and parsnips are two vegetables that have seeds that are good only for about a year. After that time they lose their viability quickly so they must be renewed yearly. — Jackie
Canning infused water
I read on Facebook a thing about water in quart jars with fruit — but not to keep it longer than 48 hours. If it were pressure-canned could you keep it longer than 48 hours? If you canned water with fruit (lemon, cucumber, etc) in it, would it flavor the water a bit more than just putting some in there for a day? Here is the article on Facebook:
Infused waters.
Here are the benefits to help with detoxification, energy, and hydration. Put as much fruit in water as you like and let the water sit for at least 30 minutes before drinking (1) Green tea, mint, lime — fat burning, digestion, headaches, congestion and breath freshener. (2) Strawberry, kiwi — cardiovascular health, immune system protection, blood sugar regulation, digestion (3) Cucumber, lime, lemon — water weight management, bloating, appetite control, hydration, digestion (4) Lemon, lime, orange — digestion vitamin C, immune defense, heartburn, (drink this one at room temperature).
Do not keep longer than 48 hours — you can put more water using the same fruit, but discard after 48 hours.
Shanda Knight
Evansdale, Iowa
You could certainly can fruits in water instead of in a syrup base for the purpose of flavoring the water. You would water bath process the fruit/water just as if you were canning fruit so follow the directions for each type of fruit but only put in as much fruit as you wish and omit the sugary syrup which is only used as a flavor enhancer, not as a preservative. I’d skip the cucumber flavored water as a cucumber is a vegetable and is low acid, requiring pressure canning unless made as a pickle (using vinegar) and pressure canned cucumber would taste yucky. Once canned, your fruit-flavored water would remain good for years on the pantry shelf. I would recommend trying a small batch and then tasting it after cooling to make sure you like the flavor before you do up a big batch. — Jackie
Meb,
Have bought seeds from Baker Creek for three years and all grew wonderfully, last year is the first year we have ever gotten a cabbage, have tried many times in the last 17 years. All our crops grew true to their descriptions. Have a friend here who only buys seeds from them for the last 9 years. You should have cotacted them and I am sure they would have tried to make things right with you.
Gayle, If you google the Hopi Pale Gray Squash seeds, you will find a couple of other companies that sell the seed. Can not remember which ones I found that are also selling them this year. Mine from Baker Creek grew true and look exactly like the ones Jackie has pictured here.
Gayle,
I’m thinking that Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds is the only company that sells these seeds. Will and I have been talking about starting to sell some of our heirloom seeds, starting this fall, including squash, tomatoes and others. If you can wait that long, we should be able to help you. Otherwise, contact Baker Creek for Hopi Pale Grey seeds. We really, really love this squash and its storage ablity.
Meb,
Sorry you had trouble with Baker Creek seeds. I’ve been buying from them for five years now and have never had a bit of trouble with germination or seeds that produced crops other than I expected. And I have bought a wide variety of seeds, too. Territorial has great seeds, but Baker Creek has much more variety. I have bought from both of them and will certainly continue to do so.
Jackie,
Where is a good place to get the Hopi Pale Grey squash seeds from? I think these are similar to some winter squashes my parents used to grow many years ago [before my birth, I always just heard about them]; Mom had gotten the seed from a childhood friend, i think, in northern Arizona where she grew up. I’d love to grow some and give one to my Dad to see if it tastes/l=looks right. Thanks in advance for information.
Marilyn,
I’m not sure what happened with the white seeds. They are pure Hopi Pale Grey and from a typical…and very large squash. I test-germinated them to make sure they were okay and they were great. As I’m running out of seeds, I tossed a few into everyone lately’s seed request so everyone could get a few more. I hope they do great for you!
Not you too … sorry to disagree but our experience with Baker Creek seeds has been less than all the hype out there about them. Almost half of what we bought from them didn’t germinate and half of what did didn’t produce the variety of food it was supposed to produce. I know several other people that have had these same issues with their seeds. I well understand that open pollinated seeds can cross easily and that’s to be expected in a home garden but for a company who is commercially selling a product, they have some serious issues with quality control. I’ve had much more success with Territorial seed and just store bought heirlooms in general. Last year I got more quality food from the cheap little 10 cent packets I bought on clearance the year before, than I did from Baker Creek seed that cost much more.
Hi, Jackie. All your information on seed saving has been such a big help to us now that we have really gotten serious about growing our own food. I wanted to let you know that the Hopi Pale Grey seeds arrived in today’s mail. I am so excited and send a BIG thank you to you. Lord willing, I should have lots of seeds next year and will be able to return many to you for sharing with other readers. I do have a question about those seeds. There are two different color seeds. Some rather white and some golden brown. Will they all give me the Hopi squash or could there be two varieties?
Bless you and thank you for all that you share with your readers.
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