What's the oldest seed you have managed to germinate ?

[nickdub]

Having a bit of a tidy up of my seed box (long overdue). Quite a lot of it looks like it should be thrown away, but I came across one packet of Greyhound Cabbage seed which looks like it might be worth a try, dated 1997 (85p Johnsons).

I'm about to put it in a box in my airing-cupboard and I'll report back in a week or so on the outcome. :-)

[burnie]

I tend to have a clear out every year and pass on what I don't need locally, I do keep some seed for at least a couple of years and re-sow, not of course Parsnip, that needs to be new seed every year.

[Thelma Sanders]

A packet of mixed lettuce varieties from Seeds of Italy, that I finally got to the end of in its 5th year - I don't know if it would have carried on longer, if there had been any left
Out of 25, 6year old Heritage pea seeds, I had 18 that chitted, but after planting up - only 10 actually grew into healthy plants. That was enough for saving seed to carry on growing the variety in future, though

[hamamelis]

Probably my Latvian Soup peas. I'm not entirely sure when I'd bought them, but it was definitely more than 5 years they were lost in the back of a cupboard before I sowed 'em. All 12 I sowed came up fine.

[Lumpy]

I suppose my OH don't count in which case I found a packet of carrot seeds when we moved that was 11 years old.

They, although a bit hit and miss tasted wonderful.

[sparrow100]

I sowed a pack of rudbeckia in 2013. The pack's sow-by date was 1986. Bumper crop of plants - approx 75% germination from a pack that had been stored at the back of a kitchen drawer.

[Penellype]

It depends if the packet has been opened or not. If its still sealed its always worth a go, if its been opened the seed is less likely to be viable. I have had tomato plants grow from seed that's about 8 years old (opened) - I think tomato seeds are virtually indestructible!

[nickdub]

It depends if the packet has been opened or not. If its still sealed its always worth a go, if its been opened the seed is less likely to be viable. I have had tomato plants grow from seed that's about 8 years old (opened) - I think tomato seeds are virtually indestructible!

Well the cabbage seed in question had been opened, the inner foil packet had a corner torn off, but had been folded back over. I put about 40 seeds in a box - now we'll have to wait to see what happens.

[Jimmy]

See
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldest_viable_seed

[nickdub]

Up-date as promised - looks like the Greyhound Cabbage seed was not viable, starting to go mouldy - might have a shot with some other aged stuff.

[Nicos]

Always worth a try eh?

[nickdub]

exactly - I was quite hopeful as small oily seeds usually last well - plenty of other out-of-date stuff to have a go with :-)

[SarrissUK]

I sowed chard seeds that ran out in 2011, and most of them have come up, seven days later

[BUFFS]

I sowed some saved nigella seed last year that had 89 on the envelope and got quite reasonable germination but the greyhound cabbage only yielded four good plants from 24 seeds dated the same year.

[bikermike]

I planted a tray of beetroot (Perfect 3?) with a best before 2016. I think I may have got them as part of my leaving present from a job in early 2014. I've got two to come up. I've re-seeded the rest with Detroit[1]

[1] I don't know, but it always makes me chuckle to think of something as bucolic as beetroot breeding connected with the macho, industrial, rawk!! connotations of Detroit...