Carrot seed lifespan - a warning!!

[veggiechicken]

I've just bought some "Green-top White carrot" seeds from Real Seeds and the package says "NB Carrot seed does not last from year to year so you may as well sow the whole packet!". Their website, and others, say it lasts up to 3 years under the best conditions.
We all know that Parsnip seeds should be bought fresh each year and I knew that Carrot seeds didn't stay viable for long - but, to sow the lot in one year got me panicking.

I dug out my carrot seed box, the one that's organised into Sow-by Month and shuffled them into Sow-by Year.
Sow by 2016 = 35
Sow by 2017 = 8
Sow by 2018 and later = 12

In those 12 packets there are more than 12,000 carrot seeds. Do you think I have enough or should I buy more?

Seriously, it made me wonder why the seed sellers would put 2000 seeds in a packet. Nobody would grow that many in a year - so, is it because their viability is poor anyway?

I've always had trouble with carrots, even new seeds. Maybe the seeds are old before they're sold?? What have been your experiences with carrot germination rates? I'm curious!

[Greenleaves]

I only grow a single row as its only me that eats them...I tend to sow like snow but still only get partial success. I have often wondered if it is because they are sown so shallow, too wet, too dry etc.

[Bex2012]

I can honestly say I’ve never had trouble with carrots - i tend to have a pretty good success rate, and Ive also successfully grown carrots from modules. Now parsnips, those I have trouble with, even plugs that are thinned out. Huge tops and a mass of tangled spindly roots underneth. I’ll be sticking to aunt bessies in future.

[veggiechicken]

Tell us your secrets Bex!
Do you use fresh seed?

[Martin H]

I keep left over carrot seed for a second year, but that's all. Germination does seem to be more reluctant in that second year so I don't want to push my luck.

[burnie]

I scatter a packet of carrots over a metre square area rather than growing in rows, I don't have any left to save.

[veggiechicken]

How many seeds germinate from your packet, burnie?

[burnie]

Had 3 different varieties in the raised bed with another I got for free from a magazine just spread under the celeriac in the "rabbit proofed" bit, all were reasonably successful , fortunate that I have a light coastal soil. Rondo, Rainbow Mixed and Chantenay were in the r/b and another chantenay in the other bit.

[Penellype]

Hmm, I usually finish carrot seeds before the sow by date, but I've not noticed particularly bad germination from 2nd year seeds. The only ones I have had problems with germinating have been a year or 2 out of date. The Autumn King I sowed at my friend's this year were sow by 2014, and those were a complete failure, but I wasn't relying on them. My usual problem is sowing too thickly which means I get too many small carrots.

[burnie]

I got a packet of Suttons Rainbow mixed not long back in the end of season sale, packed in 2017, sow by date is 2020 according to the packet

[Bex2012]

Tell us your secrets Bex!
Do you use fresh seed?

Dunno, I just use whatever is in the seed box! Didnt even realise seed had a sow by date.
Although this year I grew 'Jaune Obtuse de Doubs' Yellow Carrot and D'Eysines Carrot from real seeds and they were amazing. Great big carrots with no sign of carrot root fly at all. Ive still got two thirds of a packet of each so when it warms up slightly I shall be sticking a few seeds into a bucket, and hoping for an early crop.

[Chippy Minton]

We usually end up sowing 3 packets a year, it's too cold, then the slugs love them, then the badger digs them up, they're on the greyhound track and any that survive get carrot fly.

Thanks for the new excuse though......

[Martin H]

It might depend on how you store them, too. If you can keep them dry and airtight in a cool steady temperature they will probably stay viable for longer than mine. My seeds live in a box in my study and have to put up with central heeting.

[veggiechicken]

If I've learnt anything from this - its to only buy one or two packets a year from someone like Real Seeds who sell freshly harvested seed; and sow them fresh - same as parsnips. Not to become a carrot seed collector and hoarder or to buy from a shop or online store where they may have been sitting around for a while.
I'll open all 43 packets of past their best seed and scatter them somewhere random in the garden. With my weird luck, they'll give me my best ever carrots
Thanks for all your comments.

[Small pumpkin]

As ever VC you've out done yourself with the amount of seeds you have
( I can only aspire to be a seed collector As dedicated as you )
I've definitely sown out of date ones ! I've never really noticed poor germination from them until this year when my Yellowstone were a little poor. But they were very out of date if I remember correctly and the end of the packet.
Going to have to check my dates now on my 16 packets.
Just out of interest how many varieties in your 43 packets?