I sorted through my seed packets the other weekend to work out what seed I need to buy for next year. I ended up with 6 packets that were past their use by date, or to be precise, 5 past their use by date and one well within.
That one was parsnip which I bought last year and stated sow by 2018, but I have always used fresh seed every year.
The other 5 were Leek (2015), Sweetcorn (saved 2015), January King cabbage (2016), Savoy King (2013) and Summer cabbage (2016).
I did a germination test on them and the results were, Leek 0%, Summer cabbage 0%, Jan King cabbage 50%, Savoy King 50% and Sweetcorn 100%.
The Savoy King is expensive F1 seed so well worth doing this test as I have more than enough to sow double the amount I need instead of buying a new packet at €4.50 odd, even though it will be 5 years after it use by date.
Oh and the parsnip, 0%, so it seems I was right (yet again )
Veg seed viability
Veg seed viability
Tony
Disclaimer: I almost certainly haven't a clue what I'm talking about.
Disclaimer: I almost certainly haven't a clue what I'm talking about.
- Green Aura
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Re: Veg seed viability
Definitely well worth doing. We had some PSB which continued to germinate happily well beyond its sow by date (as in about 8 years beyond ).
Tomato seeds keep really well too.
Tomato seeds keep really well too.
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Re: Veg seed viability
I grew some Russian Kale years ago and the patch was then turned into a lawn, when I dug the lawn up about 15 years later it was smothered in Russian Kale seedlings the next spring.
Not sure that's a foolproof way of storing seeds though.
Not sure that's a foolproof way of storing seeds though.
Tony
Disclaimer: I almost certainly haven't a clue what I'm talking about.
Disclaimer: I almost certainly haven't a clue what I'm talking about.
- Flo
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Re: Veg seed viability
With brassicas of all sorts you can be quite lucky with seeds carrying on from one year to the next and a few after that. Depending on how you store them of course.
There's a lesson about not buying more than you need or forgetting to sow them of course.
There's a lesson about not buying more than you need or forgetting to sow them of course.