old seeds

[ceflet]

I have found a box of seeds from late 1990,s tthrough to 2007 is it worth sowing any of these seedsit,s a mix of everything flowers, fruit and veg?

[veggiechicken]

I wouldn't hold out much hope for them, personally - although I can never actually throw away old seeds. If you have a spare bit of ground, scatter them and hope for the best

[Moopmoop]

You could try to chit a few of each on kitchen roll to see if they're any good. Some seeds are better than others for keeping, if there are any carrots/parsnips they'll probs be dead. I have seeds from 2009 and they are still ok so it's worth a try

[Kristen]

I've got some old seeds - results of sowing stuff and discovering that I have a "New Packet" and an "Old Packet" and then the dilemma of "Shall I open the new packet, or keep it until next year"

Risk is that I keep the new packet too long and by the time I open it its too late ...

... so ... I've decided to sow all the old stuff as "micro greens". I've sure this isn't a novel idea, but I've not tried it before.

[Scarlet]

I had a clear out this year. I've binned a lot of the older stuff. I love rudbeckia flowers so I sowed 6(!) packs of them -only one pack sprouted. Tomato seeds seem to last the longest. My friends run away when I offer them seeds in Spring

[sparrow100]

I had a clear out this year. I've binned a lot of the older stuff. I love rudbeckia flowers so I sowed 6(!) packs of them -only one pack sprouted. Tomato seeds seem to last the longest. My friends run away when I offer them seeds in Spring

I've got rudbeckia flowers from a seed pack dated 1985...Mum gave me her supplies when her hands got too arthritic to garden any more. And now wants me to grow them all for her....They're nearly as old as me!

[snakeshack]

i germinated loofah seeds from 1979 last year .do a viability test and see whats good

[planetologist]

If it's a mix it probably includes frost tender plants, so I'd wait another 4 weeks, then add some fresh seed and sow it as two polycultures, one for the edibles and one for the non-edibles.