Seed storage vials

happydog · March 16, 2011

I spent all day yesterday sowing flats using Craig's fantastic dense planting method. I kept thinking of his sleek, streamlined process while I painstakingly opened and closed my hundreds of motley paper and plastic envelopes of various sizes and shapes.

I now know these things -
1. I hate the little plastic zip top bags
2. paper envelopes are fiddly and can't be sealed and unsealed multiple times
3. it's time to upgrade

So, now I'm seriously wanting to get some vials for seed storage. They seem very efficient, easy to handle, and easy to get seeds in & out of. I have a couple of questions for Craig or anybody else who uses these.
1. Does the 7 dram size work for all your seeds or do you use various sizes for different kinds of seeds? (Obviously not corn and beans.

)
2. What do you store the vials in?
3. Are you happy with them or wish you had something different?

I'd be grateful to hear any thoughts you'd care to share about using them.

Thanks!

coloken · March 16, 2011

Each month I re-fill at least 5 prescriptions. I have boxes of empty pill bottles that work just fine for me. If you were close i would give you all you need. Does the drug store destroy the used ones?
KennyP

JimM_SC · March 16, 2011

Likewise, I use my perscription vials.
Jim

kygreg · March 16, 2011

One thing I use is coin tubes. I get them on line for about $22 for a box of 100 with screw on caps; the box is the storage unit. I use quarter tubes but that is just my preference.

stormymater · March 16, 2011

Try a "wanted" on your local freecycle for prescription bottles - www.freecycle.org

Hey there Happydog!

Suze · March 18, 2011

I order my seed storage vials from E.D. Luce, and a hat tip to nctomatoman because he gave me some good advice on vials and where and what to order a few years ago. Thanks Craig!

The majority of the time, I find the 5 dram clear snap cap vials meet my needs. However, I do sometimes use the 13 dram amber snap cap vials if I have saved a boatload of seed for a particular variety, or for larger (not tomatoes) seed.

Both sizes fit nicely in these Flambeau plastic cases I found at Fry's electronics. I can even carry these around without having to worry about the vials getting all jumbled up, which is nice.

A couple more pics/views of the vials and cases I use here.

shatbox · March 18, 2011

Have you tried American Science and Surplus?

I check in ever now and again, sometimes they have some great stuff. I'm always surprised. Plus they have funny descriptions!

sBox

jamie_savoie · March 18, 2011

this is a great idea! My cousin's working in a pharmacy, I think I will give her a call for some prescription hehehe

happydog · March 19, 2011

Thanks for the great ideas. After much thought (ok, obsessing) I rejected prescription bottles because I just need too many and then most of them have bulky childproof or screw on caps.

Coin tubes are a great idea but ultimately I decided snap caps would be more convenient.

I loved that science surplus store, what a riot to read all their descriptions! They've actually got some really good stuff and I did buy a few things.

I finally decided to splurge and get 300 snap cap vials. Now to get the cases... the pics were really helpful, as well as giving the sources. Thanks a bunch!

And hey to Stormy, how are things in Paradise?

shatbox · March 20, 2011

Please tell us how they work out! I've ordered different containers from them but vials look cooler.

sBox

Cam3xl · March 21, 2011

I started using black film canisters this year. permanent sharpie marker to label the grey tops. airtight, light safe, waterproof.

http://www.youtube.com/user/cam3xl?f.../3/pfCszW59NLQ

first couple of frames show the canisters. Good luck.

kevinrs · March 22, 2011

Only problem with film canisters would be, they are getting real hard to find unless you saved up a bunch years ago.

happydog · March 22, 2011

A word of warning on labeling lids: Don't do it! Label the containers instead.

I once had two kinds of sourdough stored in mason jars with carefully labeled lids. Then I took off the lids to feed them. Boy was that an OH CRAP moment when I went to close them back up and realized I wasn't sure which lid went to which jar.

I could see that happening even faster when planting seeds.

robbyjoe01 · March 22, 2011

My wife works at Taco Bell and gives me a endless supply of condiment containers that I use to store and start seeds in

GoldenQueen · March 22, 2011

Craft stores, like Michael's or Hobby Lobby, has a lot of different types of storage containers that could work well, depending on how many varities and qty of seed you have.

March 16, 2011	#1
happydog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Appalachian Mountains NC Posts: 150	Seed storage vials I spent all day yesterday sowing flats using Craig's fantastic dense planting method. I kept thinking of his sleek, streamlined process while I painstakingly opened and closed my hundreds of motley paper and plastic envelopes of various sizes and shapes. I now know these things - 1. I hate the little plastic zip top bags 2. paper envelopes are fiddly and can't be sealed and unsealed multiple times 3. it's time to upgrade So, now I'm seriously wanting to get some vials for seed storage. They seem very efficient, easy to handle, and easy to get seeds in & out of. I have a couple of questions for Craig or anybody else who uses these. 1. Does the 7 dram size work for all your seeds or do you use various sizes for different kinds of seeds? (Obviously not corn and beans. ) 2. What do you store the vials in? 3. Are you happy with them or wish you had something different? I'd be grateful to hear any thoughts you'd care to share about using them. Thanks!

March 16, 2011	#5
stormymater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pleasure Island, NC 8a Posts: 1,162	Try a "wanted" on your local freecycle for prescription bottles - www.freecycle.org Hey there Happydog! Last edited by stormymater; March 16, 2011 at 11:14 PM. Reason: say hey!

March 16, 2011	#2
coloken Tomatovillian™ Honoree Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NE Co Posts: 303	Each month I re-fill at least 5 prescriptions. I have boxes of empty pill bottles that work just fine for me. If you were close i would give you all you need. Does the drug store destroy the used ones? KennyP

March 16, 2011	#3
JimM_SC Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Burnet, TX Posts: 138	Likewise, I use my perscription vials. Jim

March 16, 2011	#4
kygreg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: kentucky Posts: 1,019	One thing I use is coin tubes. I get them on line for about $22 for a box of 100 with screw on caps; the box is the storage unit. I use quarter tubes but that is just my preference.

March 18, 2011	#6
Suze Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,027	I order my seed storage vials from E.D. Luce, and a hat tip to nctomatoman because he gave me some good advice on vials and where and what to order a few years ago. Thanks Craig! The majority of the time, I find the 5 dram clear snap cap vials meet my needs. However, I do sometimes use the 13 dram amber snap cap vials if I have saved a boatload of seed for a particular variety, or for larger (not tomatoes) seed. Both sizes fit nicely in these Flambeau plastic cases I found at Fry's electronics. I can even carry these around without having to worry about the vials getting all jumbled up, which is nice. A couple more pics/views of the vials and cases I use here.

March 18, 2011	#7
shatbox Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Los Angeles County, CA Posts: 258	Have you tried American Science and Surplus? I check in ever now and again, sometimes they have some great stuff. I'm always surprised. Plus they have funny descriptions! sBox

March 18, 2011	#8
jamie_savoie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Grand-Falls, NB, Canada Posts: 33	this is a great idea! My cousin's working in a pharmacy, I think I will give her a call for some prescription hehehe

March 19, 2011	#9
happydog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Appalachian Mountains NC Posts: 150	Thanks for the great ideas. After much thought (ok, obsessing) I rejected prescription bottles because I just need too many and then most of them have bulky childproof or screw on caps. Coin tubes are a great idea but ultimately I decided snap caps would be more convenient. I loved that science surplus store, what a riot to read all their descriptions! They've actually got some really good stuff and I did buy a few things. I finally decided to splurge and get 300 snap cap vials. Now to get the cases... the pics were really helpful, as well as giving the sources. Thanks a bunch! And hey to Stormy, how are things in Paradise?

March 20, 2011	#10
shatbox Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Los Angeles County, CA Posts: 258	Please tell us how they work out! I've ordered different containers from them but vials look cooler. sBox

March 21, 2011	#11
Cam3xl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Baltimore Posts: 12	I started using black film canisters this year. permanent sharpie marker to label the grey tops. airtight, light safe, waterproof. http://www.youtube.com/user/cam3xl?f.../3/pfCszW59NLQ first couple of frames show the canisters. Good luck.

March 22, 2011	#12
kevinrs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Littlerock, CA Posts: 218	Only problem with film canisters would be, they are getting real hard to find unless you saved up a bunch years ago.

March 22, 2011	#14
robbyjoe01 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 30	My wife works at Taco Bell and gives me a endless supply of condiment containers that I use to store and start seeds in

March 22, 2011	#15
GoldenQueen Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Valley, CA Posts: 31	Craft stores, like Michael's or Hobby Lobby, has a lot of different types of storage containers that could work well, depending on how many varities and qty of seed you have.