[MulesMarinair]

Hi folks
Am trying to get back into growing my own after being away for a few years (growing a few kids!)
I have done a lot of work on the garden knocking it back into shape for next year and am starting to plan things out now.

I have a load of Suttons seeds, dated 2010/2011/2012, some of which are unopened. They've been stored in my shed, so cool, dark, airy and not too damp.
Do you think they are still useful?

Thanks
MM

[mumofstig]

Not too damp is the worrying bit - implying they might have got a bit damp?

Best to try chitting a pinch of seed on kitchen paper before you do your proper sowings - just to see if the seed are viable.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=76184.msg862191#msg862191

[surbie100]

I don't see any harm in trying them all. Seeds can cope with a lot. If they don't work you can always get some replacements.

[MulesMarinair]

Thanks folks!
"Not too damp" wasn't implying they might have got a bit damp - more a description of the shed / outhouse.
not really damp, but 4 or 5 Scottish winters (and summers!) might have taken its toll!
I'll give chitting a shot to see if there is any sign of life

Thanks again
MM

[oldgrunge]

Not wishing to be a Jeremiah, here, but as we know seeds contain that bit of energy to support the plant in it's early stages. With time, that diminishes, so although the seeds may germinate, they may be " Poor doers ". I used to be a compulsive seed hoarder, but got tired of wasting time and compost on old seed that performed poorly. Oh, and Mrs. Grunge saying, " I told you so!".

[Salmo]

I agree with Oldgrunge. The seeds may still germinate but with reduced vigour. This will mean that instead of emerging in 10 days it may be 2 weeks or more, and often the emergence will be spread over a week instead of all at once. On top of that some of the seedlings may be slow to develop. The implications of this are that the seedlings will be more susceptible to attacks from fungi, bacteria and insect pests.

I would put the seeds in the bin and start again

[mumofstig]

This year I successfully used up a packet of lettuce from Seeds of Italy that was opened 5 years earlier.

IMO the results of chitting indicate how successful sowing/growth will be.
A good, even show of germination for the bulk of the seeds started, would indicate seed vigour.

Patchy, weak germination means throw them away and buy a new packet

[madcat]

I'll go with Mum - they are surprisingly resilient.  The big exception is parsnip - if it is more than a couple of years old, even if it starts it just fades away.    

And worst case - if they are losers, add them to the bird seed in the feeder.  The birds took to a batch of elderly parsnip seeed last year ...

[syks grower]

Whist I agree that seeds don't get better with age most will still germinate.
I grew tomatoes this year from a packet of Sutton gardeners delight sow by 2008.

The sealed packets should be ok but you may struggle with the opened one's.
 Why don't you carry out a germination test, just put a few of the seeds from the opened packets on damp kitchen roll cover with another sheet and put in sealed container ( old take away plastic box's are ideal)
Keep in a warm place and check every couple of days to see if the seeds germinate. If they don't buy fresh.

My parsnips this year were grown from three year old seed pregerminated  as above.
I never throw seeds away without seeing if they will germinate.
John the site owner gives a table of how long seeds will keep in his allotment book and most things with the exception of parsnips should be fine at the dates you state.

[m1ckz]

personaly id buy new seed.you can waste a lot of time using duff seed to save a little.they may germinate ..but what they will grow like is a bit iffy     if you have space sow them but also sow a few new seed  regards mick from essex

[ARPoet]

When my old dad died i found many old packets of flower seeds, some open and some sealed. So i opened them all, mixed them together and sprinkled them over my flower beds and had a wonderful mixed up display all summer long.

[New shoot]

When my old dad died i found many old packets of flower seeds, some open and some sealed. So i opened them all, mixed them together and sprinkled them over my flower beds and had a wonderful mixed up display all summer long.

What a lovely way to remember your dad 

Wasn't there a bit in the Victorian Garden series when Harry sowed some really old pea seeds he had inherited from his dad and they grew just fine?

Peas and bean seeds are very long lived, but as previously suggested, a germination test gives you answers very fast, takes moments to set up and the only kit you need is damp kitchen paper and a saucer.  If you get lots of strong healthy looking sprouts, go for it 

[whitehill1]

I would suggest to use the existing stash and incase of fails, go for plug plants. I bet it would be lot cheaper to start with instead to go for several tempting seed packets. have peace in the first year coming back. 

[syks grower]

If anyone wants proof that sowing old seeds does result in good crops I suggest you look at allotment diary on U tube. Dan is now harvesting from 6 year old seeds of mixed salad leaves which he is growing under lights.