Old seed, a scrooges nightmare!

[Jimmy]

Being a scrooge by nature I look at my old seed packets and think "well they might work".
Sometimes they do but not like fresh seeds.

I used to keep my seed packets in a sealed tin, but of late I just keep them in a cardboard box in the front room.

This year was a disaster, courgettes, cucumbers, squashs plus other seeds were virtually a no show.
So "everything" is going in the bin appart from the ones I got this year.

Anyone else had a scrooge moment ?
Jimmy

[Cadalot]

Yep, my Marketmore Cucumbers failed to show so the pack went in the bin and I moved up to a younger pack and have re-sown. I also have far to many Spring Onion Seeds and I'm planting seeds that have a use by date of last year, some are doing fantastic some not so good, depending on the results the remainder of the packs are either being saved for a second sowing or thrown, and again new packs will be opened.

[Bren In Pots]

I had some opened parsnip seeds still in date and every one failed I won't do that again.

[Cadalot]

Growing parsnips is like turning lead into gold, I have had so many new packs that just don't grow only found success with fresh off the plot seed from a neighbour

[Scarlet]

It's happened with lettuce for me this year. It's difficult to throw them away

[Scarlet]

Growing parsnips is like turning lead into gold, I have had so many new packs that just don't grow only found success with fresh off the plot seed from a neighbour

I agree with that. Home saved parsnip seed is brilliant.

[Bren In Pots]

I ought to have a go at saving parsnip seeds, not sure why I've not done it before the majority of my other seeds are saved ones. Must give it a go this year.

[Scoot]

I've got some broccoli seeds that i will be sowing later. I've had them for about 4 or 5 years now. They worked fine last year so I'm hoping they will be ok this year. I think I'll just throw a load in as i can't imagine they'll all germinate. I can always thin them.

[Small pumpkin]

Me too. I have lots of very out of date seeds. But this is the first year it has coursed me any real problems. Think I've tried to use the seed for one year to many. Marrow, all my herbs and my runner beans have been very poor or a no show this year.

[Thelma Sanders]

I'm wondering if the strange combination of temperatures this year, is causing germination problems - because even seed from newly bought packets have not always provided reliable germination.

May even be the compost? I ended up mixing compost with soil to get better bean germination. MPC alone wasn't working.

[Scarlet]

because even seed from newly bought packets have not always provided reliable germination.

Hmm, I bough a pack of blue coco french bean seed from Pennard plants stall at my local potato day. I had a tray in my Prop and one next to my Aga...not one seed germinated. That's really unusual.

[bramble]

I planted a whole packet of Cobea seed purchased this year and not one germinated.

[Thelma Sanders]

I planted a whole packet of Cobea seed purchased this year and not one germinated.

I share your pain!

I had 3 from a whole packet and they only ever grew their seed leaves........ then slowly withered and died

[Jimmy]

I'm wondering if the strange combination of temperatures this year, is causing germination problems

I suspected that. My courgettes etc are in a heated propagator set to around 20 Deg C
It's opened through the day and well ventilated.
However in the recent hot spell the temperatures have soared and I wonder if that stopped things germinating.
I know lettuce won't germinate if it's too hot.

Also: people who use old seed but it works, do you find the plants less vigorous ?

Jimmy

[Jimmy]

I also suspected mice, but don't think it was!