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Two Shelf Life Studies on
Two Different Pre-Packaged Assortments of
Vacuum Sealed Survival Vegetable Seeds

 Copyright © December 1, 2018 by Robert Wayne Atkins, P.E.
All Rights Reserved.

Introduction

I usually purchase my vegetable seeds in the spring of each year and I normally store the individual seed packages inside a large zipper freezer bag in the bottom compartment of my refrigerator.

However, 20 years ago I invested in a pre-packaged assortment of vacuum sealed survival vegetable seeds. Then 5 years ago I purchased a different assortment of survival vegetable seeds that were sealed in a #10 can.

During November of the year 2018 I tested both sets of survival vegetable seeds to determine the germination percent of the different seeds that were in each assortment.

The results of my two shelf life studies appear below.

Shelf Life Results

* * * * * * *

Seed Assortment One - Purchased December 2013
Seeds Sold by Emergency Essentials (BePrepared.com)
One #10 Can of Heirloom Garden Seeds
The Can Contained 17 Non-Hybrid Hermetically Sealed Zip Locked Packages of Vegetable Seeds
Can of Seeds
  1. There was a small paper pamphlet inside the #10 Can that contained some very good information on how to plant each of the different types of seeds. The paper pamphlet also contained some very good hints for growing vegetables and for controlling weeds in the vegetable garden.
  2. There were seventeen individual packages of vegetable seeds inside the sealed #10 Can.
  3. Fourteen of the seventeen varieties were exactly what was advertised on the company's website when I placed my order (I printed that information and stored it with the can of seeds). However, the website very clearly explained that the company had the right to substitute seeds of equal or higher value than the ones advertised. The only seed substitution that I was not pleased with was the Hamson brand tomato seeds because I was not familiar with that brand of tomato.
  4. The seeds were packaged in seventeen different mylar bags that were heat sealed across the top. However, the seeds inside the mylar bags were not vacuum sealed and the seeds inside the bags were in some type of stable atmosphere. The bag did not indicate what that atmosphere was.
  5. The mylar bags took up about 50% of the space inside the #10 Can. The actual seeds probably took up less than 30% of the total space inside the #10 Can.
  6. The seeds were packaged between August to November of 2013 (actual dates printed on each of the seed packages by the company).
  7. There was no germination test data on any of the bags, or inside the can, or on the label attached to the outside of the can.
  8. The seeds were stored for five years (December 2013 to November 2018) in a temperature controlled environment where the temperature ranged from between 50°F to 75°F.
  9. The #10 Can was opened in November of 2018. Then twelve of the seed packages were opened and the seeds were tested for their germination ability.
Seed Germination Results
on 12 of the 17 Seed Varieties

PackageSeed VarietyGermination %
1. Beans: Blue Lake Bush 100 %
2. Beets: Detroit Dark Red 85 %
3. Carrot: Scarlet Nantes5 %
4. Corn: Golden Bantam 95 %
5. Cucumber: Straight Eight 90 %
6. Lettuce: Black Seeded Simpson 100 %
7. Onion: Utah Yellow Sweet Spanish 95 %
8. Radish: Champion 90 %
9. Spinach: Bloomsdale Long Standing45 %
10. Squash: Zucchini Black Beauty 100 %
11. Tomato: Hamson 80 %
12. Watermelon: Crimson Sweet 100 %

The average germination percentage for all twelve varieties of vegetable seeds was 82%.

The label on the outside of the #10 Can contained the following statement: "Adequately dried seeds stored in moisture barrier containers can be stored safely for 4 years at 65-70 degrees and much longer at lower temperatures. Each 6 degree drop in storage temperature may double the storage life of most seeds. Critical factors are temperature and moisture content. Store as cool as possible. Can should remain sealed until ready for use. For best results store unopened can in a refrigerator or freezer. Keep out of sunlight."

Comments:
  1. The vegetable seeds had an average germination percentage of 82% after five years in storage.
  2. However, I was disappointed with the 5% germination percentage of the 5 year old carrot seeds. A previous shelf life study that I did in the year 2014 resulted in a 63% germination percentage for carrot seeds that were 8 years old. I have no idea why the carrot seeds in the #10 Can did not perform better.
  3. Overall I was pleased with the different types of vegetable seeds in this assortment. In my opinion the assortment would have been ideal if it had also included turnip seeds, such as Purple Top White Globe.
  4. Overall I was pleased with the varieties of each type of vegetable seed. Many of the varieties were ones I have grown in the past and they are the varieties I recommend on my website. However, I cannot make any comment on the substitution of the Hamson tomato seeds for the one that was advertised because I do not have any previous knowledge or experience with Hamson tomatoes.
  5. The five vegetable seeds that were in the can that I did not test were: Waltham Broccoli, Hales Best Jumbo Cantaloupe, Lincoln Peas, Yolo Wonder Sweet Pepper, Waltham Butternut Winter Squash.
  6. The printed label on the outside of the can simply lists the type of seeds in the can, such as beans, beets, etc. and it does not mention the specific variety of each seed that is inside the can. Therefore you will not know what you actually have until you open the can to begin using the seeds.
  7. My five year shelf life test on this seed assortment confirmed the company's printed statement on the label on the outside of the can that the seeds can be safely stored for at least 4 years at 65-70 degrees and longer at lower temperatures.
  8. In summary, I was pleased with my purchase of this company's survival vegetable seed assortment.
* * * * * * *

Seed Assortment Two - Purchased December 1998
Back to Eden
TLC Greenhouse, Inc.
Paonia, CO 81428
Survival Seed Kit #3 for Zones 7 and 8
Sealed Seeds
  1. There were 42 individual packages of vegetable seeds in two vacuum sealed clear heavy-duty plastic bags.
  2. The seeds were packaged in 42 different zipper bags that were zipper sealed across the top. However, the seeds inside the individual zipper bags were not vacuum sealed and the seeds inside the bags were in some type of stable atmosphere. The bags did not indicate what that atmosphere was.
  3. Together the two large vacuum sealed bags of seeds were approximately the size of one #10 Can. Since there was no wasted space inside the vacuum sealed bags this meant that more vegetable seeds could be stored in the same exact space that would be required for one #10 Can.
  4. The seeds were packaged between March to December of 1998 (actual dates printed on each of the seed packages by the company).
  5. The individual seed packages also had a germination percentage printed on the package label that was on each bag. The germination percents in the year 1998 ranged from a low of 66% to a high of 96%.
  6. The seeds were stored for twenty years (December 1998 to November 2018) in a dark area in a temperature controlled environment where the temperature ranged from between 50°F to 75°F.
  7. The vacuum sealed bags were opened in November of 2018. Then sixteen of the 42 seed packages were opened and the seeds were tested for their germination ability.
Germination Results on the "Back to Eden" Vegetable Seeds:
  1. Twelve of the same types of seeds were tested as the seeds in the "#10 Can" above (beans, beets, carrots, corn, cucumber, lettuce, onion, radish, spinach, squash, tomato, watermelon).
  2. Seven of the varieties of seeds were exactly the same as in the "#10 Can" above (Detroit Dark Red, Golden Bantam, Straight Eight, Utah Yellow Sweet Spanish, Bloomsdale Long Standing, Zucchini Black Beauty, and Crimson Sweet).
  3. In addition, four other types of seeds were tested (oats, okra, turnips, and hard red winter wheat).
  4. After 20 years in storage the germination percent for the 16 types of "Back to Eden" seeds that were tested was zero percent (0%).
Comments:
  1. I was surprised that none of the 16 types of "Back to Eden" seeds would germinate.
  2. The "Back to Eden" seeds were stored in the same exact area where I stored the "#10 Can" of seeds.
  3. I tested the "Back to Eden" seeds at exactly the same time as the seeds in the "#10 Can" above. The two batches of seeds were placed side-by-side on a large tray while they were being tested. In other words, the "Back to Eden" seeds were on the tray next to the "#10 Can" seeds of the same type (beans, beets, etc.).
  4. I do not know if vegetable seeds lose all of their germination potential after 20 years, or if the seeds from this particular source were somehow compromised. In my opinion, more data will be needed before a firm conclusion on this issue can be reached.

Conclusion

Although both assortments of seed were advertised as being sealed, only the outside can or the outside clear plastic bag was sealed. The actual seeds in both assortments of seed were in packages that contained some type of atmosphere.

This confirms the advice that I have been giving for many years. Seeds are living organizations and they need a limited amount of atmosphere to stay alive but they do not need any moisture. Therefore the actual seeds should not be vacuum sealed because this will probably adversely impact their shelf life.

For many years I have recommended purchasing some extra vegetable seeds in the spring of each year, and putting the seed packages inside a heavy-duty plastic zipper bag, and writing the year on the outside of the zipper bag with a permanent black marker, and then storing those seeds in your refrigerator. In my opinion, this is a better option than buying pre-packaged seeds from a survival company for the following reasons:
  1. You get to select the exact types of seeds you want (beans, corn, etc.)
  2. You get to select the specific varieties of seeds that you want (Golden Bantam Heirloom Corn, etc.).
  3. You will know exactly how much of each type of seed you have in storage.
  4. You will know exactly what types of seeds you have in reserve for a hard times event.
  5. The seeds will not require a lot of storage space so you can keep them in the bottom compartment of your refrigerator and this will help to significantly extend their shelf life for many, many years.
  6. You will be able to buy a lot more seeds for a lot less money when compared to the pre-packaged seed assortments sold by survival companies.
Respectfully,
Grandpappy.

Grandpappy's e-mail address is: RobertWayneAtkins@hotmail.com

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