Seed viability

[smallblueplanet]

Anyone know how long cauliflower seeds are supposed to be viable for?

[Lesley Jay]

Cauliflower seeds should last for 4 years depending on how they are stored. I would expect seed purchased from a seed merchant and stored somewhere cool and dry to last but if the seed is purchased from a garden centre where it is on display in a huge greenhouse, which can become extremely hot in the summer, I would not expect great results.

[smallblueplanet]

Thanks LJ - no wonder our cauli Idol is not popping up....think its about 6 years old! nevermind we've some cauli snowball thats a bit newer to try too.

Don't suppose you know how long lettuce seed lasts?

We bought a load of stuff when we first started growing in 2000, but what with moving we've not used some for a few years.

[Lesley Jay]

If you are short of cauliflower seeds I can send you some.

[smallblueplanet]

Thanks for the offer LJ - we've got lots of bits and bobs, I'm an inveterate seed buyer, its just some is now a bit old.

[Lesley Jay]

I always buy too much!!

[smallblueplanet]

Its irresistible - so many different types to try and taste

ebay is the worst - last year I bought 40 pkts of organic 'various' veggie seeds from USA for £8 - can't resist

[Geordie]

If you have old seeds or some which you are not sure about....sprinkle a sample onto damp kitchen roll and keep warm...you will soon see how many germinate...and use this as a % of how many in the rest of the packet will be likely to germinate.
This is quicker than sowing the seed and waiting 2/3 weeks to see what happens

[Strepsy]

If you have old seeds or some which you are not sure about....sprinkle a sample onto damp kitchen roll and keep warm...you will soon see how many germinate...and use this as a % of how many in the rest of the packet will be likely to germinate.
This is quicker than sowing the seed and waiting 2/3 weeks to see what happens

That's a good idea, thanks for that. I have quite a few old packs as my mum gave them to me from my gran's when she'd passed on. Tried about 5 packs up to now and 3 of them worked, including some marigolds from 1992!

[Squirrel]

Am also going to give this a try as I have spans of old flower seeds collected over the past few years! Will let you know how I get on!