How long do these seeds stay usable?I have over a half bag left from June and winter is coming. The are in a sealed plastic bag in the house. Now I'm reading about these bugs & eggs!What to do? Toss, freeze, plant outside with the spring bulbs?Help! How long do these seeds stay usable?I have over a half bag left from June and winter is coming. The are in a sealed plastic bag in the house. Now I'm reading about these bugs &... » Read More How long do these seeds stay usable?I have over a half bag left from June and winter is coming. The are in a sealed plastic bag in the house. Now I'm reading about these bugs & eggs!What to do? Toss, freeze, plant outside with the spring bulbs?Help! « Show Less
598272
I don't really know, since the bag I bought produced moldy grass. I tried two plantings and both resulted in white mold. My intended use was for cat grass, but I wouldn't let the cats near it. "Toss" is my suggestion. This stuff is horrible and there are so many better sources.
598273
Just put in the freezer to kill the bugs and eggs. Bugs are good; it just means that no pesticides were used.
1927637
I found this info on it here: http://www.naturescontrol.com/ladybugs.html It said this: When not being used, ladybugs may be stored in the refrigerator, where they live off their body fat. (Keep the temperature between 35-45 F.) They appear almost dead in the refrigerator, but quickly become active when warmed up. How long can they be stored? Usually 2-3 months, but it depends on the time of year, and some losses can be expected the longer they're stored. During early spring (March and April) they should be used somewhat sooner, as these are older ladybugs from the previous year. During May, ladybugs should be released immediately. The new ladybug crop comes in about June 1, and these young ladybugs actually seem to benefit from refrigeration 1-2 months - it simulates winter for them. (Note: Modern frost-free refrigerators tend to dry out ladybugs in storage. For prolonged storage, your bags of ladybugs can be misted or sprinkled with water, perhaps every 2-3 weeks. Allow ladybugs to dry at room temperature until moisture is mostly evaporated, then replace ladybugs in refrigerator.)
727622
Thank you for taking time to answer. If I froze them I would definitely wrap them tightly in plastic first. I freeze all my other flours and meals so they won't get weevils. But I will take this into consideration.
160520
You can just keep them in your refrigerator. When you're ready take them out and wait. I have done this before and have some in my fridge now from last year's hatch.
1226565
I'm sorry I don't know I didn't ask the seller. But the rule of thumb on food storage the seeds are good for up to 15 yrs. I hope this helps.
624363
They are quite alive when you empty them. I don't suggest spending any extra money on a model with a ziploc or "easy empty" bottom. Mine failed within a week of use and I had to resort to clipping the bag shut on the bottom. Plan on one season, toss, get new ones next year. The attractant works perfectly and instantly, it's unbelievable. I found the best way to dispose of the bugs was to freeze them and then toss them. If you just put them in a bag in your trash alive they will probably find a way out and infest your trashcan.
429405
Probably a month or longer. I've had them out for 6 weeks and they were working. Excellent solution. I keep the unopened ones in the freezer to keep them fresher. We use two in the pantry, rotate one each two weeks, so there is a fresh one on one shelf, while the other is two weeks or older.
1456969
I opened mine right away, so I'm not sure, but after I opened them, they were starting to dry out, so I put the opened bag into a jar. That was a couple months ago, and they are still fine. If they start to mold, let them dry out a little to store them longer, put them in some sugar, where they will dry and flavor the sugar, or freeze them.
1607658
You can order them anytime and keep them in refrigerator. I used a plastic cup for each casing with very fine mesh-like cheesecloth or organza fabric piece over the top secured by a rubber band. As long as it is cold, they will not hatch. Check with a good garden shop to find out when they would be hatching normally then take them from the refrigerator and leave the cups (covered as I describe) out for anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks ahead (a guess...I didn't keep track of the elapsed time) Weekends you will want to take them home or have a student's family take them for once they hatch they look for food and, if not put out in the garden, eventually they will begin eating each other, I have been told. A great many hatch from each casing. They are the size of mosquitos....perfect miniature praying mantis once they emerge from the casing and shed an outer 'cocoon-like covering. You can carefully take them out by hand or shake the container around. Try to spread them around the area so that they will have room to find insects. If you are lucky, a few will live and you will see them....one or more inches long and very green...in your garden. I just thought...if you had a bunch of containers, each of your children could take some home with them and distribute in their own gardens. My grandchildren have been so excited to spot one or more of their grown up 'babies' midway through the summer. Good luck
1732761
Dear bj, thank you for your question. This is Lisa, the owner of Zziggysgal. Here's some tips on the best way to keep your seeds viable during long periods of storage.1) Most importantly, do not freeze them because each seed contains a tiny droplet of water at its core to be used upon germination. When water freezes, it expands, damaging/compromising the seeds cell structure.2) The secret to keeping them viable longer is to carefully choose a storage place that does not experience extreme fluctuation in temperatures. 3) I like to place my leftover packets of seeds sealed in a good old fashioned mason jar. Dear bj, thank you for your question. This is Lisa, the owner of Zziggysgal. Here's some tips on the best way to keep your seeds viable during long periods of storage.1) Most importantly, do not freeze them because each seed contains a tiny droplet of water at its core to be used upon germination. When water freezes, it expands, damaging/compromising the seeds cell structure.2) The secret to keeping them viable longer is to carefully choose a storage place that does not experience extreme fluctuation in temperatures. 3) I like to place my leftover packets of seeds sealed... » Read More Dear bj, thank you for your question. This is Lisa, the owner of Zziggysgal. Here's some tips on the best way to keep your seeds viable during long periods of storage.1) Most importantly, do not freeze them because each seed contains a tiny droplet of water at its core to be used upon germination. When water freezes, it expands, damaging/compromising the seeds cell structure.2) The secret to keeping them viable longer is to carefully choose a storage place that does not experience extreme fluctuation in temperatures. 3) I like to place my leftover packets of seeds sealed in a good old fashioned mason jar. « Show Less
433419
We just keep them in their box/bag in the pantry (as the previous answer noted, the pantry is cool and dark). Because they are seeds, they don't really have a shelf life.
2122320
I waited until the following morning. I kept them in the refrigerator over night. Then took them out around 6 am and let them get to room temp. Then I released them around 7 am. First, I sprayed my plant to get it damp and spread the lady bugs out over the plant.
1006382
They go dormant in the winter unless you put them under lights. You don't have to feed them during slow times the bugs are really fertilizer not food. However we used tiny freeze dried fresh water shrimp during a science fair project & that worked. They sell them as fish food in pet stores.
1654139
I store the unopened bags at normal room temperature but I am sure freezing cannot hurt the buckwheat groats. Opened bags are still O.K. at room temperature for a week or two provided they are sealed tightly or even longer in a closed storage container. I assume we are talking about the Organic Buckwheat groats???
315761
I think if you keep them refrigerated they will be okay but I let the company mange that and order in the spring! So worth it, I had no bugs on my veggies or flowers.
1581774
Just planted them in the ground a week ago. Haven't weathered a Minnesota winter yet, But, I remember from my youth a buddy's parents had a clump by the backdoor that came back every year. (NOTE: the package I purchased came with no instructions... I recommend a YouTube search for aid on how to promote germination.) Good Luck
742722
Because the babies are so small, if you just leave the egg in the garden you won't really know if/when they arrive. I found a Y shaped twig and lodged the egg in between the V shape of the twig. Then I placed it in a mesh bag and hung it in a tree. I don't know how warm it is in DE right now but the babies will not arrive until it is clearly spring. It took more than a month for ours to hatch and we live in AZ, it was in the high 80s when they arrived. Don't get discouraged, they will come!