Caring for your Seeds
CARING FOR YOUR SEEDS
The seed packet is a re-sealable zip lock packet. It is not heat sealed at the top, so you do not need to tear the packet open. Simply open it as you would any zip lock bag and re-seal when you go to store your seeds.
The packet will protect the seeds by keeping the heat and air out. How you store them after that is up to you. A cool dry place is more than adequate but if you want to store them in the fridge you can.
Each year a seed will loose roughly 10% of its viability. Thus seeds on sale have usually passed their best viability age so more seeds are placed in a packet to allow better chance of some seeds sprouting. Ideally we do not want to hold seeds that have passed their best viability stage so put them on sale before this date. Often seeds on sale may just be overstocked, so you get a bonus for these seeds as we try to reduce stock levels.
Things to consider when propagating seeds
- Make sure you have chosen the correct seed (plant) for your climate area. This does not mean you cannot grow other varieties of seeds, but you will get the best results from plants that grow well according to your climate area. Unless of course you are using controlled conditions in a green house for instance.
- Make sure the growing season is the right season for planting that particular seed variety.
- Check your soil temperature if you can. The right soil temperature will help the seeds sprout. If it is too cold or too hot, you might not be so lucky. If this information is not available on the seed pack or on our website, then do some research on Google such as “how to grow tomato seeds”. You will find hundreds of answers.
- Soil pH is another important factor for propagating seeds. The wrong pH will not supply the seed with the required nutrients to allow it to flourish and grow.
- Water is possibly the most important factor – but you can kill your seeds with overwatering causing fungus or rotting of the seed. Feel the soil to see if it is damp or wet and do not let it dry out or become waterlogged. Check what the best soil moisture is for the seed you are trying to grow.
- Well drained soil is usually an important factor when propagating seeds, but some seeds will happily survive in really wet soil. So, know the type of soil and drainage that the seed requires to grow.
- Propagation mix. Also, very important. Do not just use any garden mix. Get some good quality propagation mix. Cheap bags of soil are often just sawdust sprayed with black paint to make them look like good soil. Choose a quality propagation mix or research how to make your own.
- Check if your seeds need to be planted in trays, protected under a container or in a green house for protection from the harsh outside elements. Or does it require direct planting into the ground.
- Seeds generally need a warm moist environment to sprout so choose your position carefully according to their planting instructions. If you are not sure research further on google.
- Be sure to harden them off before transplanting them into a garden bed once they have grown tall enough.
These are just a few things to consider. Reseal your packet properly before storing again and try and use the seeds within a year. However, many seeds last longer than their “best by” date. Just try them to find out. With the new labeling there is no longer a “Best By” Date. We monitor this better with the coloured dot on the front of the packet. Ideally you should try to grow your seeds within one year of purchasing them but many seeds will last way longer than one year so one year is just a guide.
Even with all this you may still not have success and there could be many other reasons why the seeds did not sprout in your garden. Gardening is a trial-and-error exercise. So just keep trying (if you are a beginner gardener) and as you gain more knowledge and experience you will eventually work out what works and does not work in your garden. Some seeds just will not grow in certain soils, and climates and your garden might be one such place.
Till all our old packaging is used up, seeds on sale are indicated with a sticker on the packet. The new packets will have a BLACK dot. This does not always mean the seeds are old. Sometimes we are overstocked so put these on sale too.
Seed quantities will also be reduced per packet depending on the availability of that seed. This way everyone gets an opportunity to buy rare seeds when stocks are limited. We do our best to keep this information updated on the website. And sometimes your seeds will contain white organic propagation powder and/or inoculant.
Thank you for purchasing our seeds. We do our best to supply you with quality seeds. We triple check your order to ensure you receive the correct seeds and seed quantity. The number in each packet is an approximate amount only but usually more. If you think we got this wrong please count your seeds first, take a photo of the front side of the packet, then email us the details so we can investigate why your packet of seeds missed our triple check process and did not meet your expectations or our standards. (Seed quantities are being updated as the need arises. This is a very time consuming task so is likely to take up to a year to fully update all the seed quantities and seed growing information)
You can download a planting guide from the website that shows times to plant in each climate area in Australia
POSTAGE RATES
Currently we charge $3.40 for every 5 packet of seeds and $6.80 for 10. Once you hit 11 packets you will automatically get a tracked envelope for $6.90 up to 15 packets of seeds. Or you can choose the “Tracked” postage option. If you have ever had lost deliveries to your address I recommend you chose the tracked postage option. We have no control over the post and do not refund seeds lost in the mail. Australia Post have never lost any tracked orders to date
Beyond 15 packets – From 15 to 50 seeds the website will charge you $11.60 for a tracked padded parcel. Over 50 packets the website will charge you $18.60 unless we can find a cheaper rate with a courier. Please email us if you wish to use another option. A very large order can sometimes work out cheaper to send it by courier.
Preparing a seed order can take time depending on the size of the order. We aim to post your order within three to five business days, typically every other day. However, this is sometimes not possible. If not possible we contact you and let you know accordingly. Or you can call us if you have any queries or questions on (07) 3358 3716 or +1800 218 334.
Because ABSeeds site now offers better tracking options in a tracked envelope, more people are using this option. We try to take a photo of your tracking number and email it to you after your seeds are posted. If we get too busy this may not always happen. But you can always email us for your tracking details.
Most orders arrive within a week. We have no control over the post. And they have no control over extenuating circumstances such as flood, fires, lockdowns, holiday spending or something else. Your order could potentially take more than a week to get to you. Please email us of this late delivery so we can check the tracking if you chose to track your order.
We may need to place a query to Australia Post if delivery is 1 to 3 months overdue.
If you do not choose tracking, there is no way for anyone to know where your order is. You must then rely on Australia Post to deliver. You can lodge a query with Australia Post to find your lost parcel only if you chose the “Tracked” option. So please consider your postage situation.
Unfortunately we do not give refunds on orders lost in the mail. If you think your address has had postage issues in the past then please choose the “tracking option”. After 10 packets the website will automatically charge for tracked post according to the number of seeds you ordered. Up to 10 packets you have the choice of regular post or tracked post. You can chose this option during checkout. We cannot track regular post.
Storing your Seeds
Your seeds will store well in a cool dry place. Or you can store them in the fridge, in separate labeled plastic snap lock bags (or the foil packs they come in) with as much air squeezed out as possible, or inside either an airtight jar or airtight container. Place 1 tablespoon of rice inside with the seeds to take up any humidity (however I do not think this is worth it with small seeds as they would get mixed up with the rice and become indistinguishable). Make sure the seeds are dry first, so they do not mould.
Or use Diatomaceous Earth to absorb moisture and aid germination when you propagate your seed. Refrigerator storage is important to keep seeds fresh for sowing, reduce the rate at which they respire, or ‘breathe’, and normal refrigerator temperatures are sufficient for this purpose. Or just store them in a cool dry place that is not in direct sun. Some seeds (like chillis) benefit from freezing before planting. You can read up on chlli info from this link
If you have any questions that are not answered adequately on the website, then please call us on 0467 006 529. Or do a google search for unanswered questions and you will find endless pages of informtion.
The website is being updated as I have time so all the information on each seed may not be ready for a few months to come as this is quite a big task.
Thank you kindly for buying our seeds and I wish you happy propagating.
