How far can a packet go?

[rustylady]

Dr Hessayon The Vegetable Expert is a really good guide. It gives expected germination times, and the life expectancy of stored seed as well as how much you need for a row of a certain length.

[Earthbabe]

I like my Hessayon too RL. It is extremely useful from planning through to harvesting.

[shirley]

I agree Hessayon books are good. Like you earthbabe my news papers get used for the guinea pigs. Makes good compost after though doesn't it.

[Earthbabe]

Definitely will do. Ours are only 11 weeks old but as the hutch needs to be cleaned out every 4-5 days I've actually had to start buying the occasional newspaper and can no longer just rely on the freebie coming through the door.

[dexterdoglancashire]

In the main I use my newspapers for the cats and that of course, then goes straight in the dustbin. I save a few sunday newspapers for my pots (not after using them for the cats of course!) DDL

[Marge]

Should you always use fresh seed (ie buy new every year or every other year)? Or can you keep seeds for a long time and still use them in the garden?

I ask because I have some veg, herb, & flower seeds some bought and some I have collected over the past couple of years and I don't know whether to keep them or bin them.

[Alison]

If you keep them cool and dry then you should be able to use them well past their packet sell by date - I'm sure that's just a marketing ploy. If you're not too sure you're better off planting a few more spares than usual but you should still be OK - if they all come then you've got some good swap plants to get something different!

[Earthbabe]

Hi Marge, some seed is more viable when fresh but others keep better e.g. beans as long as they are stored somewhere cool and dry. D G Hessayon gives this sort of info in his "The Vegetable and Herb Expert".

BTW Welcome to the Vine.

[Alice]

Hello Marge, some time ago Eskymo (i'm sure it was her) posted a poem which gave the viable life of lots of seeds. I don't know how to find it on the site but I'm sure L J does. Maybe she could tell you how to find it.

[Alice]

Sorry Marge, it was Poultrychat who posted the poem about seed shelf life. I've found it and you can see it under that title. Hope that's helpful to you.