Sow by dates - how accurate?

[HeyWayne]

I received some seeds from a grape that are both packed year end 2005, sow by 12 2008.

Are they still likely to germinate/be ok? Or should I bin 'em and buy fresh?

Swede & turnip.

[janeyo]

I'm sure I read somewhere (prob on here) to test a few on some damp kitchen paper on the windowsill and if a few come up then give em a go. If none come up then bin em


janeyo

[lynda66]

they'll be fine, theres only parsnips and possibly onions that might not germinate xx

[zazen999]

I'd chuck the turnip [I hate the stuff], and sow 3 swede seeds on kitchen roll to test. I'm sure it will be fine.

[SarzWix]

Are they opened packets, or sealed? If they're still sealed they're more likely to be ok. But as the others said, put some on moist kitchen paper and see what happens

[tamsin]

I don't think they will know you're 7 days late planting

[terrier]

I used turnip seeds this last season that had been open for two years and they all grew just fine. I would think swede are pretty much the same but I've never grown them. As Janeyo says, try a few on damp paper first.

[kitchengardner]

I received some seeds from a grape that are both packed year end 2005, sow by 12 2008.

Are they still likely to germinate/be ok? Or should I bin 'em and buy fresh?

Swede & turnip.

Both should be fine as long as they have been stored in a cool dry place. I have used seeds (for radishes & carrots) two years past the sell by date with no obvious problems.

The paper test the others have suggested will help your confidence and if you do it now you will still have time to get fresh seed if the worst comes to the worst.

Regards

Kitchen Gardener

[HeyWayne]

Excellent - cheers people.

Damp paper it is!

[pigletwillie]

Parsnips and carrots are not as bad as people make out, germination does drop in the second year but I just sow them more thickly. Onion seed will last a 2-3 years without too much todo and big stuff like peas etc, probably 10 years plus.

[Flummery]

I've probably mentioned this before but in 1978/9 when my Husband and his Dad shared an allotment, his Dad found some seeds in an old tin, left from when HIS Dad had an allotment. He died in the 1950s so these were WELL out of date. They also didn't have the sophisticated foil wrapping we now have. They were all swede and turnip varieties so they mixed them up and sowed them thickly. Result - a really good germination and a fantastic crop.

[HeyWayne]

Kind of what I though/hoped - thanks again people, I'll give 'em a go. Root veg are pretty hardy 'ent they?

[bluemoon]

I'm a seedaholic and I usually don't have room/forget half of it so my seed box is full of stuff that's well out of date. I do sow it eventually and don't usually have any problems.