Being fairly new to gardening I am starting my first ever "buy some packets
of seeds and try growing from seed" experience. :-)

I decided to buy a bigger variety of packets of seeds than I can probably
cope with first time around. (Decided it was better to have a choice to
hand than to find I wanted more.) This prompts two questions:

1) If I keep some packets unopened, will they still be OK next year, and
provide a germination rate similar to if I use them soon?

2) Is it viable to open a packet and use *some* of the seeds, and somehow
reseal the packet and keep others for next year?

Or is this absurdly 'frugal' and unlikely to provide any useful seeds for
the next year? i.e. would either of the above be pretty pointless as a new
packet next year would only cost a pound or two, so trying to keep them
isn't worth the effort?

In each case, if practical, what would be the best storage conditions?
Would indoors in a sealed plastic bag be OK for opened packets? Include a
pack of silica gel?...

I don't have a greenhouse, or conservatory, etc. So can only grow either by
sowing directly outside, or by starting off with small trays/pots in
plastic bags on widowsills.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

On Fri, 11 Mar 2005 09:27:21 +0000 (GMT), Jim Lesurf wrote:

Being fairly new to gardening I am starting my first ever "buy some packets
of seeds and try growing from seed" experience. :-)

I decided to buy a bigger variety of packets of seeds than I can probably
cope with first time around. (Decided it was better to have a choice to
hand than to find I wanted more.) This prompts two questions:

1) If I keep some packets unopened, will they still be OK next year, and
provide a germination rate similar to if I use them soon?

Most seeds keep for a couple of years at least. But it depends on the sort
of plants. There's usually a best-by or sow-by date on the packet, if not
I'd assume it'd be ok next year but with a little less germination rate.


2) Is it viable to open a packet and use *some* of the seeds, and somehow
reseal the packet and keep others for next year?

Of course.
Just fold the packets over so the seeds don't fall out and keep them
frost-free, and away from damp. I keep all my open packets in a shoebox in
the kitchen.

Or is this absurdly 'frugal' and unlikely to provide any useful seeds for
the next year? i.e. would either of the above be pretty pointless as a new
packet next year would only cost a pound or two, so trying to keep them
isn't worth the effort?

In each case, if practical, what would be the best storage conditions?
Would indoors in a sealed plastic bag be OK for opened packets? Include a
pack of silica gel?...

I don't think the silica is necessary unless you keep the opened seed
packets in a damp place.

--
Tim C.

Jim Lesurf wrote:
:: Being fairly new to gardening I am starting my first ever "buy
:: some packets of seeds and try growing from seed" experience. :-)
::
:: I decided to buy a bigger variety of packets of seeds than I can
:: probably cope with first time around. (Decided it was better to
:: have a choice to hand than to find I wanted more.) This prompts
:: two questions:
::
:: 1) If I keep some packets unopened, will they still be OK next
:: year, and provide a germination rate similar to if I use them soon?
::
:: 2) Is it viable to open a packet and use *some* of the seeds, and
:: somehow reseal the packet and keep others for next year?
::
:: Or is this absurdly 'frugal' and unlikely to provide any useful
:: seeds for the next year? i.e. would either of the above be pretty
:: pointless as a new packet next year would only cost a pound or
:: two, so trying to keep them isn't worth the effort?
::
:: In each case, if practical, what would be the best storage
:: conditions? Would indoors in a sealed plastic bag be OK for opened
:: packets? Include a pack of silica gel?...
::
:: I don't have a greenhouse, or conservatory, etc. So can only grow
:: either by sowing directly outside, or by starting off with small
:: trays/pots in plastic bags on widowsills.

I've recently sown tomatoes, onions, sprouts, petunias and impatiens - all
these were from unopened packets which went out of date in 1999....it's more
of an experiment really, I just wanted to see if the seeds were still viable
after so long, if they don't grow then I can purchase seedlings like I did
last year, but I'm confidant that they will germinate.
They had been kept ina sealed biscuit tin on top of a kitchen cupboard for
at least 5 years and I have placed the unused seeds back into ther foil
inner packets and folded them over and put them in their respective paper
packets for next year, provided this lot grow.

I do have a greenhouse but not heated and so I'm in the same boat as you
with the window sills, which I've monitored and found to have fairly
constant temperatures of 64 - 76 deg F in an unheated room, perfect for most
of the seeds I have but a little too cold for tomatoes and chillis which are
on a heated window sill near a radiator...the main problem I m having (as
someone pointed out in another thread) is humidity - the compost keeps
drying out and needs to be misted over a couple of times per day...it was
fine with cling film over it until the seedlings popped up, they are now an
inch high (chillis from a pod and french marigolds from last years dried up
flowerheads)
I don't think it's 'absurdly frugal' at all...those who are selling the
seeds want you to purchase new ones every year...we'll see just how many 6
year old seeds germinate in the next week or two, and if they do, how many 7
year old ones germinate next year!

--

http://www.blueyonder256k.myby.co.uk/