Is it worth worth sowing old vegetable seeds ?

[WillieBee]

Is it worth sewing old seeds ?

I have quite a few packets of vegetable seed, some packed in 2015 and 2016

is it worth sewing these, or will it just be a waste of time

I know some seeds (parsnip being at least one) that will not grow if it is old, but are others OK ?

thank you

[veggiechicken]

Test a few seeds on some damp paper to see if they germinate.
If you sow 10 and 5 germinate you'll have an idea whether to sow them thickly or not. If less than 5 germinate its probably best to buy new ones.

[Jungle Jane]

I sowed some old cape gooseberry seeds only one has germinated,its precious but I wonder if it’ll be a weak plant,I’ll sow more seeds & try & get a few decent looking seedlings that’s all I do,sometimes you get a load of good seedlings but it’s a risk with things like carrots,waiting so long & not knowing what it’s gonna look like when you pull it up. Some old 2015 tomato seeds have germinated here,it’s a relief to see them appear I can save some seeds from the best plant

[Small pumpkin]

I always sow old seeds. Usually a lot more than I need, to increase chances of getting some germination.
Sometimes I end up with loads, sometimes nothing. More often than not, I get something come up. Either way I'm happy because I've given them a chance. Plus I enjoy sowing seeds, so if I have to do it again it's not a problem.

[veggiechicken]

When I advised testing for viability earlier I should have added ...................but I don't.
The really old ones are scattered randomly in an out of the way corner and sometimes all manner of surprising items grow.
If you have a new plot, pop down to L1dl and buy some cheap, fresh seeds to start you off and experiment with the older ones.

[Bren In Pots]

Have a read at this vine link, old seeds last longer than you think.

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ing_96272.html

[Aberdeenplotter]

Definitely worth trying them but...........

The big issue is timing if they don't come so bear that in mind as for instance with carrots you could lose 4 weeks or so of growing time waiting for them to appear and then they don't

[MarkPelican]

It all depends on how much space you've got. when I had an allotment, I treated old seeds as a bonus, sowed them "out of the way" and increased the glut if they grew. Now that I've downsized to a garden, its more important that what I do sow grows so I tend not to sow old seeds that don't keep (parsnips & carrots for example).

[MyWifesBrassicas]

It's alway's worth a shot, you'll never know unless you give them a go.
Just don't use prime space, save that for new seeds that are guaranteed to germinate.
I did try 2004 bedford champion onions last month, 2 full packets of them, i think 1 germinated

[SarrissUK]

Sometimes seeds can surprise you. I sowed two old packets of peppers seeds - not a single one germinated. I bought a new pack and sowed them, not a single one has germinated.

I sowed three or four packs of very, very old chilli seeds and every single one must've germinated cause now I got 120 odd plants (taking them to work as we speak).