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Books tell you to buy new seeds each year too - makes me so cross because inexperienced gardeners will believe it. Himself and his Dad once scattered some swede and turnip seeds that had been his Grandad's - they must have been 30 years out of date. A surprising number grew!
I never have a problem being a tight wad.. i will sow the old veg seeds and if they come up.. then they are still fertile.. if they dont, then i've lost nowt. Old flower seeds i just scatter and hope for the best.
Roger
I don't take much notice of the sow-by date, I just use them up and buy more when I have run out IYKWIM. Oh, except for parsnips. I do use the old ones to see if they'll germinate, but I always buy just one packet of new each year.
I found a pkt of parsnip seeds last year that I'd forgot about (2007), I sowed about 20 and 11 germinated...I was rather impressed, not with the seeds but with the fact I got them to germinate at all . Me and parsnips don't have a very good relationship.
How long will vegetable seeds last if stored properly?
Asparagus 3
Beans 3
Onions 1
Beets 4
Peas 3
Broccoli 5
Peppers 2
Cabbage 5
Pumpkins 4
Carrots 3
Radishes 5
Cauliflower 5
Spinach 5
Corn 2
Squash 4
Cucumbers 5
Tomatoes 4
Lettuce 5
Watermelons 4
To be honest I'd say that those durations can easily be doubled. In particular brassic seeds easily last 10 years and toms also. I've had high germination from old peppers, corn and squash also. As for peas and beans so long as they're kept clean and dry they pretty much last forever
Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.
To be honest I'd say that those durations can easily be doubled. In particular brassic seeds easily last 10 years and toms also. I've had high germination from old peppers, corn and squash also. As for peas and beans so long as they're kept clean and dry they pretty much last forever
And tomato seeds are mostly still viable after 10 years. Remember, they WANT you to need more seeds!
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