Old seeds?

[Caro]

Nicos, brilliant summary and links, thanks! (Just saved me posting about some self-saved peas i have)

[TonyF]

I agree with Alison and Flummers and would extend Nicos' list by at least a half, tho bearing in mind some of the seeds may be less or non-viable as they get older. The dates on seed packets from the larger, commercial enterprises are just a bring-on for people to buy more seeds. When I managed B&Q garden centres, the reps and buyers were obsessed by people buying year after year, buying plants too early and generally wasting their money.

One of the advantages for me when buying the eco/bio seeds in France is that many now tell you how long the seeds are viable so you don't buy year after year.

[Glutton4...]

I know nothing, but would also agree that, providing the seeds are kept in suitable conditions, they should last several years. I only throw away seeds that are obviously past it, ie. wet, mouldy or damaged.

I too, have an unhealthy obsession with buying more seeds whenever I see them.

[Snadger]

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and his Dad once scattered some swede and turnip seeds that had been his Grandad's - they must have been 30 years out of date.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!

Similar experience here Flum. Parsnips are renowned to have a short shelf life. My Dad found a packet in the bottom drawer when he was cleaning my Grandads house out after he'd died..
Again, 30 years out of date, scattered on surface and a veritable sea of parsnips grew!

Which just goes to prove................Parsnip seeds don't read books!

[annacruachan]

I too, have an unhealthy obsession with buying more seeds whenever I see them.

I believe you're in good company here, G4!

[TonyF]

I believe you're in good company here, G4!

What's worrying about the obsession is once you have a lot of the 'normal' varieties, you start to look for those that are bit different. I mean to say, it's fine growing tomatoes but just how many varieties do you need - or peppers, or aubergines, or ................

[taff]

Just in case anyone wondered about the date palm seed, and how it's doing....

so far Methusealh , our ancient date tree is doing well .. over 2 meters tall and thriving. We still dont know yet whether its male or female.


I asked and she answered, how lovely