Seed Question

littleorchard · « **on:** February 15, 2008, 10:24 »

I was sorting my shead out yeaterday and I have packets of open seeds from last year, the date is ok still but am I ok to use them as they have been open??

Not sure so kept them and thought i'd ask you lot!

Aidy · « **Reply #1 on:** February 15, 2008, 10:31 »

What are they? many seeds will be ok for a while depending on the type.

littleorchard · « **Reply #2 on:** February 15, 2008, 10:53 »

There is some carrot, parsnip, radish, and runner beans, and probably a few others but thats the ones off the top of my head.

paintedlady · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2008, 11:09 »

personally I would go for fresh seed all round.

However, nothing is stopping you from trying them out - put some of each on damp tissue (in a fairly warm place) to check whether they will germinate before you start serious sowing, and work out approx percentage of how many of the seed actually sprout eg if you sprinkled 10 seeds, and only 1 germinated, then bin that packet

Yorkie · « **Reply #4 on:** February 15, 2008, 17:13 »

I have a copy of a couple of pages from an ancient book.

It says that carrots (with or without spines (!)) should have germinating power on average for 4-5 years, parsnip 2 years, radish 5 years, and beans 6 years.

I wouldn't hold out much hope for the parsnip seed, but the others are probably worth a punt. :roll:

naturesparadise · « **Reply #5 on:** February 15, 2008, 17:17 »

easy test with runner beans put them in a pot of water and leave 24 hours the ones that float are duds but dont do this till your going to sow them

flowerlady · « **Reply #6 on:** February 15, 2008, 18:16 »

The only suspects are the parsnips ... definitely use damp kitchen paper to sprout them on.

(I did this last year sprinkled them on some damp paper in a plastic meat dish, put same in a poly bag then into the airing cupboard, those that sprouted went into modules, worked a treat!)

Ok seed question with pic Started by Beetroot Queen on Grow Your Own	30 Replies 5613 Views	March 02, 2014, 20:55 by surbie100
Hi again and seed question Started by fletch on Grow Your Own	6 Replies 1204 Views	March 30, 2009, 21:44 by Stripey_cat
Seed bed question Started by Jonajo on Grow Your Own	5 Replies 1453 Views	August 27, 2009, 23:27 by Salmo
A Seed Saving Question. Started by Potiron on Grow Your Own	3 Replies 1176 Views	March 04, 2009, 09:33 by woodburner