Out of date seeds

Tibbie's_mum

I have just unearthed an old tin of seeds, most packets are unopened but the majority are sow by 2001. Does this mean they will not germinate or will not produce any crops, I would hate it if I just had to throw them away.

TIA

alanobrien

You cant loose anything from sowing them.

This one is a little bit older than yours and still sprouted

http://www.kew.org/msbp/news/200_year_old_seeds.htm

enrich100

chances are they are past their best you could alway test them by sowing a few on a damp piece of paper towel to see if any germinate,

the link below gives you a guide about how long seeds last

Seed Viability

mrbadexample

enrich100 wrote: »

the link below gives you a guide about how long seeds last

Seed Viability

Cheers for that. I was wondering whether to buy new parsnip seed, as I heard on Gardener's World that it's no good after a year. I think I'll chance using what I've got - generously, and replacing it next year.

RebekahR

Wow thats good. My parnsip seeds are 2 years old this year and it was a clsesd packed. Was wondering whether to bother or not. I'll go for it now. Thanks.

babyshoes

We used old parsnip seeds last season, and very few of them came up. Try sowing a pinch in each of several toilet roll inner tubes, and if any sprout then just plant them tube and all. (parsnips don't like being transplanted!) It is a pity they are such fussy bu99ers, because we would eat loads more if they were easier to grow!

foreign_correspondent

seeds far older have been found to be viable, so give it a go -

Jane Shen-Miller of the University of California, Los Angeles sprouted a lotus seed that she estimated by radiocarbon dating was almost 1,300 years old.

http://www.britannica.com/bps/additionalcontent/18/7259153/Time-Capsules

...germination rates may well be lower, but there is nothing to lose by trying them. Seeds are best stored in the fridge

Furny

I got some seeds given that i noticed where a couple of months out of date. I wondered, i'm not going to worry anymore, they'll definatley get planted!

valk_scot

I would err on the side of caution and do a germination test. Wet some kitchen towel or cotton wool, put in the lid of a jam jar, add a tiny pinch of seeds and screw the lid down on the jam jar upside down, to make a mini propagator. (The jam jar just keeps the cotton wool from drying out. Place somewhere not too cold that you'll remember to check it, like the kitchen window sill. Keep moist. You're only watching for signs of germination ie the seeds starting to split and put out tiny shoots, then you can dump the lot. You can make a rough estimate of the % germination too.

Reason? Well, it's all very well saying "just sow them" but if you get poor or no germination in a bed by the time you notice this you can have lost two or three weeks of the growing season and that's not ideal. Seeds do vary in viability after long storage and, tbh, the price of a fresh packet or two of some varieties is less of a loss than losing two weeks of growing season and getting only 50% of a row coming up. Even if you don't want to buy more of a seed, doing the test will give you an indication of how much more thickly you may need to sow that seed.

Plenty of time to do the test before seed sowing time too, btw. Get the jamjars out!

Tibbie's_mum

Thanks for everyone's replies, I've decided to get some new seeds and get cracking. I couldn't bear finding out later, that I've only got a small percentage germinating.

valk_scot

Tibbie's_mum wrote: »

Thanks for everyone's replies, I've decided to get some new seeds and get cracking. I couldn't bear finding out later, that I've only got a small percentage germinating.

If any of your old seeds are lettuce varieties, you could try sowing them thickly now in a shallow box ar large pot of compost as cut and come again young salad leaves. Keep on a bright windowsill and water as necessary. If they come up then great, you've got something from your old seeds. If not, then use the pot of compost for something else.