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Old 12-03-2007, 11:39 PM posted to austin.gardening
oldhickory oldhickory is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Sep 2006
Posts: 32
Default seed expiration?

Thanks, y'all!

--
ie
ride fast, take chances. (bicycle ;-)


"dt" wrote in message
...
Vern wrote:

Old or outdated seeds are far more viable than you might think. I have a
gardening bag that has unused seeds dating back to the eighties. I do
buy some fresh seeds but seem to always end up with leftovers. Last year
I planted some Israeli melons from a 1998 crop and they came up as if
they were fresh and produced beautifully. I once read about an old desk
that was found in an agricultural extension office that had a bunch of
seed in a drawer from the 1940's. (I read this in the mid '80's) They
planted several of the seeds and if I remember correctly there was about
an 85+% rate of germination. Naturally seed companies are going to
always tell you to buy fresh, but why would you buy seeds if you grew a
crop the season before and saved your own seeds from the biggest and best
you grew? That is if you are not growing hybrids. My 2 cents worth.

"oldhickory" wrote in message
...

Silly question...how much does age affect seeds ability to germinate?

I have some left over herb seeds from 2005 and 2006. Is it worth trying
to plant or will they fail and are my efforts best spent on buying new
and planting those.

Anyone have experience?

--
ie
ride fast, take chances.


"Ride fast, take chances"? Take a chance: sow 'em thicker than usual, but
be prepared to thin like a maniac if they all germinate. Be prepared to
go buy new seed if they don't; it's still early.

DT