I use the coin envelopes - in some cases I have also saved the original colorful envelope and put the coin envelope in that then you have the original information. I know others will chime in. I do know with zip lock baggies you have to make sure your seed is DRY or else it could mold (personal experience)....

Lynne

The little zip baggies are available at wally world in the craft section.
Bonny

I also use coin envelopes. These I put in a short cardboard box which I divided into rows using pieces of cardboard. The seed envelopes are filed alphabetically. The little zip baggies that I get in exchanges get filed also. If I have several of the same variety they will go into a coin envelope otherwise they file just fine on their own. After planting I file the envelopes into another cardboard box.

I also have a seperate one for seeds that I am going to trade.

These cardboard boxes are about the same height as those that nurseries put your plants in to take home but are not as long. They are easy to carry and sit on my desk when I want to search for a variety.

Also, best of all they are free.

Bobbie

I use a small round old cookie container. It has a very tight seal. Most likely not air tight thogh enough for me. And I use either the small baggies or the envelopes that I recently found out how to make.

Paula

There's a lot of ways to store seeds! I just redid three bins to hold seeds that haven't been filed yet...the bins hold annuals, perennials, veggies and everything else ;-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Seed Storage Gallery

I also use the #1 coin envelopes. I have a huge metal art box that's about 3" deep with several compartments and I keep the seed packets in that. I keep the box in the garage fridge. I use plastic baggies or small tupperware containers for stratifying seeds or the tiny baggies for short term storage or shipping. I get the coin envelopes at Staples. It's about $7 for 250 envelopes.
Karyn

I store my seeds in a collection of antique sewing baskets. :O) In the baskets are envelopes where the seeds are kept and as I need them, I take them from the baskets. One has ingoing perennials (from trades), another has outgoing perennials, etc. In another I store all my stamps and empty envelopes for trading. Each basket has a purpose!

For me, I use snack size ziplock baggies for large amount seed storage, then if I trade or give I transfer to coin envelopes.
The seeds are kept in an old wooden, hinged box seperated in the middle one side is veggies the other side is flowers.

I see 2 separate questions here. One is your subject line of storage, but the other is your question about your petunia seeds.

On the petunia seeds, you could be harvesting these all summer, so something that will allow you to put little pods or even seeds in on a daily basis would be nice. (Or if not daily, then weekly) I doubt many people on here take seeds and put them straight into plastic -- they should dry a few days first. Longer if you pick the pods and want them to split open on their own.

I'm not saying this is the best idea on the planet, but I got some #2 and #4 cone coffee filters and I have a cardboard shoebox where each size fits nicely. I write the name of the seed on the filter itself and then drop the pods into them as I collect. They are open already, so it's a simple matter of dropping the seeds in. I also can label them "really tall orange zinnia" or "Sunset orange snapdragon" for plants that I especially want to keep the seed of. If I end up with too many, I can trade away packs of seed that might say "Seed from gorgeous sunset orange snapdragon". Not saying the seedlings will be orange, just that the mother was.

After the pods split, the seed has dried and it's time to package away, you can use coin envelopes. But if you're going to trade them away, the cheap plastic ziploc-style baggies are a LOT cheaper -- maybe 25% the cost? You buy them from WalMart, Michaels, Hobby Lobby or JoAnn's and they are stocked on the shelves near the beads 100 bags for about $1.00.

I am always on the look out for new and better seed drying methods! Right now, I have a lot of seeds on a lot of horizontal surfaces and it's a mess! My new idea is to make a miniature drying rack with screen sides, bottom and top to allow air movement. Not sure how to do it, but I'm thinking about it. :))

Lime

I bought the clear little bags for $15 for 2,000. Now that's a deal. I purchased them from an on-line company whose name eludes me. I need to order more, so I will post if anyone is interested. I need to search my visa records.

I use coin envelopes and store them in alphabetical order in boxes with tops that they sell for storing photos. About the size of a shoe box (a little wider) Pretty cheap to buy and they have a little file tag on the front surface that you can write in.

For drying seeds I have moved a 5 self plantstand that I use for flats outside all spring inside recently to a corner of the kitchen. This way I have lots of horizontal space for paper plates of seed to sit on as they dry.I picked this stand up at a thrift store a few years ago and it is so useful. In the late fall/early winter before I start sowing, I use it as a bakers rack to cool christmas cookies on before packing them up. Best 10 bucks I ever spent.

I use snack size ziplock baggies too. Just the right size to line up in a shoe box. I cut up old Christmas cards or birthday cards slightly smaller than the baggie, write the name of the seeds & insert it in each bag. This servs two purposes: to identify the seeds and to stiffen up the baggies. They'll stay upright in the shoe box. I use index card dividers to separate the bags and arrange them alphabetically, annuals in one box, perennials in another.

For collecting seeds, I use small containers such as yogurt containers, tuna cans, small plastic trays such as those that mushrooms come in and also used foil pans. I leave the seeds, pods and all in the garage to dry. I'll separate them from chaff in fall.

I save my seeds in old plastic Rx bottles. I am wondering if I should add a little silica jell just to be sure they don't get moldy. Haven't had a problem so far.

OMG- I HAVE to show you my new bin! I'm at work, but will get a pic later, but I can tell you details...I was SO excited last week when I found it!!

TJ Maxx.
It's "officially" a scrapbooking organizer, but it screamed 'SEED STORAGE' for me.
It's about 18" x 18" square, and about 8" tall. I found it in the stationery section with all kinds of other boxes.
Has a GREAT floral print on it, and when you take the top off, there's a smaller tray with several little bins/sections that lifts out, and a bottom 'bin' that is all sectioned off.
On the side, there's a DRAWER that has no sections...good for those bigger zippy bags of stuff, or empty packets.

Can't wait to show you a picture!! The best part, is it's a lot more attractive than the cardboard box/tupperware/glad plastic bins that I've currently got going, and won't offend the DH when I decide to get it all out and play in it!

Here's the pic. Pardon the bad clarity...thought it came out better

{{gwi:414635}}

mmqc...where is your post (with pics) from earlier this year that pictured the ultimate seed storage device...you know the one...I think it was maybe a Crapsman, on wheels with lots of drawers.

Sue

I'm new at this seed saving, but once the seeds have air-dried, I've been putting them into these cute little seed envelopes I learned to make. (Link to the instructions below.) I'm a little behind on my seed envelopes, so I've been putting some in little ziplocs in the meantime which works fine as well.

I'm ashamed to say I'm storing my seeds in a couple plastic bags from the grocery store, but I do have a lovely box that looks something like the one mmqchdygg has, except it doesn't have the cool compartments ... just a big empty box. I don't know why I didn't think about using it for seeds before. It has big flowers on it ... duh ... lol.

Here is a link that might be useful: Seed envelopes