We rate the best seed stores for keeping your seeds safe and dry over winter, from boxes to tins!
Over time, you learn that there is no need to sow an entire packet of seeds all at once, seed stores become very handy. Accomplished gardeners who have confidence in their propagation skills, and those who are very short on space, eventually sow only what they require. As a result, seed needs to be stored from year to year or month to month.
Without an organised seed store, it is very easy to fall into the habit of putting any spare seed in the oddments drawer with the loose keys and foreign coins. The packets are then only found by chance, and usually just after you have bought more. It is for all these reasons that a seed store is a very sensible investment. Some seed stores offer monthly dividers that act as fantastic reminders for when to sow. If you are a learner gardener, placing the seeds in the relevant month can be a great confidence booster. You can also make a note of which varieties you sowed last year under each month. Seed stores and envelopes are a wonderful way to store home-harvested seed. The pre-marked envelopes make you label them correctly, which avoids confusion at sowing time. I love the idea of giving seed as a gift in an attractive envelope or seed store, and they can make lovely living place cards or favours for a gardening tea party. On a more practical note, it is vital that your seed is stored in a dry cool place. It would be advisable to place a little packet of desiccant such as silica gel in your seed store tin to remove any excess moisture. I would also recommend that you avoid keeping your seed in the kitchen – a warm and humid environment is not ideal.
Hen & Hammock cardboard seed stores. Credit: Howard Walker
Cardboard comfort
These thick cardboard seed stores from Hen & Hammock come in a pack of five. They have an attractive design, and offer a space on the side on which to write the name of the seed and the date stored. I would only recommend these for larger seeds such as beans and sweet peas, as you would need rather a lot of very fine seed to fill the tubes. To my mind, they are ideal for children. With the top and bottom of the tube looking very similar, there is a danger that you could open the tube from the wrong end, and lose the seeds on the floor. To extract the seed, you have to tip it out onto you hand, as the pots are too deep and rigid to pinch a few seeds from the bottom. They need to be stored in a dry place. Having said all that, I really like them and they’re great fun. Fill these with large seed and use them as a gifted name card at a gardeners’ dinner party. £8. Tel: +44 (0)1844 217060. www.henandhammock.co.uk
The Suttons Heritage Seed Box. Credit: Howard Walker
Heritage charm
Suttons Heritage Seed Box is such a lovely tin and each year there is a new design – start a collection! It would work equally well as a store for tea bags. The lid of the tin is based on a design from an old catalogue and is quite charming. The tin measures 16cm x 22cm x 6cm. You won’t be able to file seeds in the tin but it is very attractive. The lid has a hinge so won’t get lost. It is nothing more than a tin but it is far more appropriate than storing seed in an old ice cream tub. Buy three or more packets of seeds from Suttons and you can order the tin for £2. £6.99. Tel: 0844 9220606. www.suttons.co.uk
The Seeds Packet Organiser from Burgon & Ball. Credit: Howard Walker
Dividing cards
The Seed Packets Organiser in burgundy is the best looking of the bunch, in my opinion. I like the handle on either side of the tin, and inside it offers five compartments, a dividing card for every month, a pencil and five seed envelopes. I have picked the green storage box over this one purely because the lid has no hinges, and I found this slightly annoying. I just know I would lose it or dent it very quickly. Measures 28cm x 20cm x 16cm. £19.95. Tel: +44 (0)1142 338262. www.burgonandball.com
Seed envelopes from Burgon & Ball. Credit: Howard Walker
For home harvesting
Seed envelopes are the perfect way to store home-harvested seed. These envelopes come in a pack of 20 and measure 11cm x 7cm. There is space on the front to write seed type, date collected, where from and who by, and the back is left free for extra notes. They can be sealed as you would any other envelope. A great way to give a gift of seed to a friend, or ideal for selling seed at National Gardens Scheme open days or seed-swap events. I think there would be a call for a large size of envelope for the larger seeds. Very handy, but slightly expensive. £3.95. Tel: +44 (0)1142 338262. www.burgonandball.com
The Calendar Seed Storage Box from Crocus. Credit: Howard Walker
Generous storage
Crocus’ olive-green Calendar Seed Storage Box is a very neat, no-frills store. I love the colour, but there are also warm grey and royal blue options – all would look good in the home or the shed. The dimensions are 20cm x 13cm x 26cm, which is big enough to store a generous amount of large seeds. It is a good depth, so very long packets can be stored. The box is divided into two, and comes with date cards, so you can pop the seed packets into the month they need to be sown. This acts as an excellent reminder. I really appreciated the fact that the lid has a hinge, rather than being separate, as this reduced the risk of it being lost. This is my pick of the bunch. £17.99. Tel: +44 (0)1344 578000. www.crocus.co.uk
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