Seeds

[Rosee]

Hi all,

I have a load of seeds that are 'Sow by' 2013

I can't see myself using them this year, I've been busy with the house move and Baby

Do you think they'll be ok next year?

Tbh id be happy to give them away, but even then, do people want seeds that are use by this year? They were all donated to me by a friend at the end of 2011 and I *think* they're a mixture of home saved and branded but there isn't a lot of info on the packets (I gave her a load of seed saving packets then she posted a load of them filled through my door

Thanks

[rustylady]

Depends on what they are. Most seeds are viable quite a bit past their "sow by" date.

[Capsid]

Seed germination rates have to be a minumum level depending on the vegetable (range is 60-80%) which declines with age and hence the reason for providing a sow by date. So using the seed next year is fine but just expect that less of them will germinate.

[Veggielot]

You could test a few of them before you use them to check they are germinating before mass planting, but I would expect you will be okay with most of them, maybe not quite as good a germination rate as when new but still acceptable.

[RedThorn]

Only ones I've not had a load of luck with past their sow by date is parsnips. If it were me, I'd hang on to them

[WendyC]

Think of "sow by" dates as a best before date. Still ok but may not be at their best. Unopened foil packets keep for ages, opened ones less so. As said previously parsnips are best from freshly opened packet each year.