Harsh weather, such as floods or droughts, can lead to crop failure. It is important to store seeds to ensure a supply for future planting. Dry seeds are easy to store and can remain viable for years. However, tubers and fleshy seeds may rot or sprout while in storage.
Storing Sprouted Fleshy Seeds
We stored ginger, turmeric, galangal, purple yam, and chayote seeds during last summer’s drought. The seeds germinated in the heat and humidity, but we didn’t plant the sprouts to keep them safe from potential crop failures due to flash floods. We kept the sprouted seeds to see how long they would last without rotting or depleting their food stores. Harvesting the tubers after the leaves dried and limiting water for a month helped stop the seeds from rotting or sprouting too soon.
Good shelf life of Sprouted Fleshy Seed
We kept the fleshy seeds in cardboard boxes in shady, outdoor areas with good ventilation. The rhizomes took 3 months to sprout, but the chayote sprouted in a month. The sprouted seeds stayed viable for up to 6 months before they lost nutrients or began to rot. They lasted long enough to plant and store more seeds for another 6 months. Wrapping newspapers around the chayote seeds might help extend their storage time. Overall, fleshy seeds can be stored long enough to survive harsh weather, even if they start to germinate.
#LoveHomeGrown