Last years seeds

[pea weevil]

Hi
Last year I was a bit over zealous with the seed buying, not knowing excatly the quantities that I needed. I now have some packets unopened and some with a few seeds left, they have been stored in a cool dry place and every thing looks fine. Should I use up last years seed? or buy new? Really don't want to take any risks with germination.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Hi pea weevil,
If you've bought seed from a regular seed company (Suttons, T&M, Franchi etc) the packets should give you a 'sow before' date, but to be honest, I like to think they are being over cautious and I will often sow out of date seed with success. Some seeds do not keep as well, such as parsnips, and to ensure a good germination rate either buy new, or try chitting some on damp kitchen paper and see what sort of germination rate you get.

[Jono]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that its recommended you buy parsnips fresh every year. Has anyone heard this or am I imagining things?

[Nicos]

spot on jono....parsnip seeds don't age well at all.

As for all your other seeds pea weevil-they should be fine

[pea weevil]

Typical, have one and a half packets of parsnip seed left.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Typical, have one and a half packets of parsnip seed left.

Give 'em a bash anyway pea weevil! I keep parsnip seed for a couple of years and still get good germination

[binley100]

If you've already got them then there's nothing to be lost by trying, but you may also have to buy a new packet . But don't open it unless t'others are a noshow.....

[Two_Sheds]

I ignore "best before" dates - use your old seed up. If you're unsure, chit a couple on damp kitchen towel to see if they're viable. If they're not, buy new

[Alison]

I'm currently chitting some old carrot seeds on damp kitchen roll to see if they're viable so I've got time to buy new ones if I need to before I need to sow.

[Kristen]

I have seed that is donkey's years old. How quickly do they expect me to use up Cos Lettuce ("Average contents 1,300 seeds" !!) - I grow about a dozen a year!

I grow my Parsnips in newspaper pots, having first chitted the seed on moist kitchen paper, so poor germination not really a problem as it comes to light pretty quickly.

But seed viability charts that I have seen say "one year" for Parsnips, and everything else is 2 years or more, so I reckon they are the worst candidates.

[oldie]

Have a browse in the local library. I'm sure I saw charts of seed life expectation in books by Charles Dowding and John Harrison. Parsnips are the only ones I buy regularly.

[Rabidbun]

I use seeds that are (youngish) donkeys years old still. Only ones I've noticed an issue with (I don't grow parsnips) are occasional packs of lettuce seed and peas (my current pack is over four years old so far and still going). Just means I pre germinate the peas to find the good ones and sow more lettuce seed over the ones that don't come up in the trough. So like everyone has said, go for it!