germination rates for old seeds.
 

As some of you may (or may not) remember, I planted some ancient seeds on
the 7th of this month, all went out of date in 1999....at the same time I
also sown some self collected seeds, all have been kept in a light position
between 65 - 70F, these are the germination rates:

Self collected seeds:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chillis (from a pod) 50 planted 50 germinated, 100% success.
Lobelia, unknown planted, thousands germinated.
Marigolds, 100 planted, approx 70 germinated, 70% success.

Seeds from 1999:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Petunia, 30 planted, 0 germinated, 0% success.
Tomatoes, 15 planted, 15 germinated, 100% sucess.
Onions, 20 planted, 0 germinated, 0% success.
Sprouts, 16 planted, 8 germinated, 50% success.
Impatiens, 30 planted, 0 germinated, 0% success

Is there still time for the petunias, impatiens and onions? - they have been
in 11 days now and are showing no signs of life...the sprouts have only just
broken the surface and I'm confidant that germination will continue and
maybe I'll get maybe a dozen....the tomatoes didn't show until 9 days, while
the chillis and marigolds flew up after four days and are all now 30mm high.

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