sprout seeds need freezing?

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OK, I have a friend who swears that sprout seeds need to be kept frozen/refrigerated to be of any good.

Can anyone with experience with sprouts tell us if a person buys seeds for sprouts, how must they be stored. Must they be frozen/refriged, or, can just keeping them in a cool, dark place keep them usable down the road.

Thanks for any help.

Rice is still cheap at Sam's. Get way more than enough, unless you are prepared to shoot your neighbors.....Let's pray it isn't that bad, but prepare for a mighty humbling if that is what is in store for us.

-- littlesprout (wsvnsk2@juno.com), November 18, 1999

Answers

Store in a cool, dark dry place. Place your seeds in ziploc bags or canning jars. I haven't had a problem with mine so far and I've been sprouting for 2 years now.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), November 18, 1999.

bardou, do you know if my wheat labeled 'Kansas certified seed' can be sprouted? I heard that it could possibly be treated with something. Thanks if anyone knows.

Lurker 13

-- lurker13 (lurker13@nowhere.now), November 18, 1999.


Since many of us are storing food in buckets with oxygen eating packets, it might be assumed that you would do the same with sprout seeds as well...but DON'T. The lack of oxygen destroys the ability of the seed to germinate. Your wheat that has been stored in an oxygen free environment will not sprout, so if you want wheat to sprout you can store it in a bucket with diatomaceous earth to keep the little buggies out.

-- Kenin Marble (kenin17@yahoo.com), November 18, 1999.

Lurker-

If the seed is in the original container, by law it must be labeled as having been treated. Usually the treatment is a fungicide. If it is treated, it will be colored (usually pink or green), and may have a strange smell. If you see any of these signs, obviously don't eat it, feed it to animals, or handle it with your bare hands. If you have any doubts, the above applies as well.

-- (cavscout@home.now), November 18, 1999.


From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr (pic), near Monterey, California

My sprouts just recently arrived in individually packed silver colored bags. My plan has been to include one in each food bucket that I pack, since I wanted to protect them somewhat from mice and bugs. I've been putting dessicant in my buckets. For ease of organization, distributing them with the rest of the food makes most sense for me. Do I need to be packing them in their own bucket, since they have their own bag, or does this bag breathe?

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), November 18, 1999.



Dancr...

.....If the silver-colored bags are metallic they won't breath, plastic will.

Lurker 13...

.....If the wheat is "seed" wheat, yes, it is probably treated for growth. I don't know if I'd eat that in the sprout form or not, just to be safe. You may be ok after they sprout well, but don't drink the sprout-water. I'd get some regular wheat to sprout with. (On the sprout-water, many experienced sprouters will drink the first few rinses in order to benefit from the high nutrient content, as opposed to just pouring it down the drain. It doesn't taste too bad, but we prefer to cook with it instead).

-- Patrick (pmchenry@gradall.com), November 18, 1999.


Thanks patrick, however, I still don't know if it's OK to seal these bags in my buckets. Also, how is it that non-breathing bags could keep these seeds alive in the first place, if they need oxygen?

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), November 18, 1999.

Dancr...

.....Your buckets, being plastic will breath as well as the bags. I don't think there's a need for them to have oxygen, as my non-hybrids were purchased, and remain in a can, (in nitrogen), which I'm sure doesn't breathe. I also have some other varieties I've stored in a bucket in C02, and some just in a bucket without any concern for their atmosphere, (I'll use these first). Hope this helps.

-- Patrick (pmchenry@gradall.com), November 18, 1999.


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