The Best Ways to Store Seeds

Pillbox

Sometimes you just need to take a second look at the things around you to see them with new eyes as a creative seed storage idea. Look for items that have sleeves or compartments to slip in envelopes or small spaces for handfuls of seeds, as well as spots for labeling.

A pillbox is a good choice when you have a small amount of a wide variety of seeds and need a storage box with compartments. Use separate pillboxes for different areas of your garden—one for your cutting garden, one for veggies—for easy planting later on. Don't forget to clearly label each box with its contents. 

8-Track Case

Upcycle another oldie but goodie for a large seed storage container: an old 8-track case that can hold envelopes perfectly. A cassette tape storage case would work just as well as a great way to store seeds.

Photo Album

If you need a more compact method of storage, a photo album might be one of the best ways to store seeds. Simply slip packets of seeds into the photo sleeves. You can also include notes about the seeds and arrange them in order of planting time. Include real photos of your landscaping to track progress (and inspire new ideas) season after season. Once it’s filled, you can slide the album right onto a shelf until next year.

Seed storage photo album from Ozark Mountain Family Homestead

Filing Cabinet

If you have a massive garden, to organize your seed storage a filing cabinet approach may be best. Those plastic three-drawer shelves or a repurposed nightstand can serve this purpose for larger quantities, or a recipe box might work for fewer. With a filing box, you have room for labels and information for each category of seeds.

Organized seedbox from Chiot's Run

Photo Case

This handy photo organizer, which houses several 4x6 plastic containers, can double as seed storage. Each sleeve could contain quite a few packets. You could group them by type of flower or food, time of planting, or family.

Organizer Made From Old Boxes

For the crafty and creative, anything can become storage. Making your seed storage containers can be helpful as you can customize the organizer to be exactly what you need. Bonus: repurposing materials like old cereal and snack boxes means you'll spend next to nothing on the project (which means you can spend more money on your garden next spring!). 

This tutorial takes an empty cracker box and empty pudding-mix boxes to make a handy compartmentalized storage container. Not into DIY? You can pick up similar organizers online or at your local big-box retailer. 

DIY compartmentalized storage container from Raised Urban Gardens

Organizer Made From Foam Board

Looking for a sturdier solution? Use foam board—yes, the popular medium used in many school science fair presentations—to create a custom seed storage box. This project has a more "finished" look to it and would stack well when stored in your garage or attic. 

Mason Jar

If you're looking for an efficient, airtight seed storage container, consider the simple mason jar. Storing seed packets in a jar allows them to be easily sealed and you can even include silica packets if you’d like. It’s easy to find a place for jars, and larger jars can hold quite a few envelopes of seeds. Again, you can group them by any category you’d like.

Plastic Baggies

Plastic baggies can also make an effective seed storage method, stored right in drawers or baskets. Your gardening notebook can be kept in the basket along with anything else you need to know or have for an organized planning and planting season.

Plastic baggie seed storage from Empress of Dirt

There are numerous ways to store seeds. From the elaborate to the simple and everything in between, the important thing is to choose whatever will be workable for your organization style. Whatever it takes to keep those seeds and have a beautiful, fruitful garden year after year.