One of the more common ways to store seeds is to refrigerate them. Seeds are best preserved at 32-41 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the normal temperature inside a household refrigerator. These fridges are also usually moist, so you will need to protect the seeds from moisture by either sealing them in a container or using something to absorb the moisture
Adding powdered milk or
diatomaceous earth (food grade) can be done as well. Powdered milk absorbs about twice its volume in water and can be added at a 1:1 ratio (by volume) with seeds.
Diatomaceous earth absorbs up to 20x its volume in water and can be added in smaller amounts for the same results. Powdered milk is available in most grocery stores while
diatomaceous earth can be purchased at any farm or feed and grain store and online. Both are low cost and usually sold by the pound.
They are best used by putting a quantity of seeds into a pouch made of porous cloth such as cheese cloth or burlap and placing it into a container filled with powdered milk or
diatomaceous earth. This makes it easier to get the seeds out and to change out the powder when required. Powdered milk should be swapped every six months while
diatomaceous earth can last a year or more (it doesn’t “go bad”).
