old seeds

[tulip]

Hi all,

Hope this is the right place to post this. I've got some old pkts of veggie seeds, packed 0/5 and sow by 0/7, all opened apart from the asparagus pea. Do some types of veg seeds have a definite longer shelf life than others? Would some be a definite no-no now?

mangetout - carouby de maussane
pepper - hungarian hotwax
aubergine - moneymaker
onion - white lisbon
asparagus pea -
tomato (not so)tiny tim - (maybe i got a rogue pkt - they grew like triffids)

thnx,
tulip

[Eyren]

I wouldn't be optimistic about any of those - the onions will almost certainly be non-viable, the rest might show some germination if they are sow by 2007, but 2005...not so much.

IIRC brassicas and squash/courgettes are the best keepers, but 4-5 years is usually your limit even on those.

[Flummery]

Toms will keep easily 10 years. Many thngs are viable long past their supposed date. You can always try them on a bit of damp kitchen towel inside a poly bag to see if any germinate. If they do, bang 'em in some compost ASAP and sow some more!

I would always be prepared to take the chance for the cost of a small pot of compost. You'll be surprised how long some seeds are viable.

[Eyren]

You'll be surprised how long some seeds are viable.

Admittedly I haven't been growing my own long enough to test really old seed - but I still wouldn't put money on those spring onions. I've had slow and patchy germination this year from opened packets of leeks and spring onions that were still officially within their use-by date by up to a year

[blackcatlois]

I'd still give all of them a go.... call me tight but I won't throw seed away until I've tested it and seen it's useless, regardless of the date on the packet, I've been surprised many times by what's come up!

[Bluemchen]

Try germinating them on some kitchen towel in the warm - you will soon see if they are still viable or not, rather than sowing them and waiting.......

[tulip]

thanks for the info and advice.

tulip

[King Carrot]

Usually the sow by date gives a date when the minimum germination rate should be acheived(I don't know what % it is) , so I would expect some if not all to germinate long after that date depending on the type of seed and how they are stored. As Flummery suggests above, germinate on paper towel and plant if they sprout.