Seed viability

[andy]

As we're now on the right side of the shortest day, I thought i'd check my seed box to see what I might need to buy soon.

I have quite a few seed packets open from last year....Beans, courgettes, onions, leeks, carrots, beetroot and probably a few more.

Are they worth keeping for this year ?   Is there any seeds that are useless once opened and won't keep

***Getting excited.com***   lol

Cheers

Andy

[Tig]

There are some which last ages and some which have very short viability lifespan. Many last way longer than the sow by date on the packets, and others are almost useless from the day you buy them in my view. From my experience all those you've listed should be fine if you've kept the remaining seeds in a dry environment which hasn't been too hot (last year was never very hot!) I can't find an exhaustive list but this link has a table of some of the common flowers and veg seed viability www.amateurgardening.com/top-tips/ornamental/seed-viability-2712

Hope that helps

[coppice]

Test a few of the onion seed on a damp paper towel in a baggie, to see if they will germinate. Those have the shortest shelf life based on my trials.

They may or may not still be good. The rest should be.

[Dutchy]

And some can be wakened by soaking in old tea first.

Give them a test and a go.

[Rosefriend]

Jan 11, 2016 9:04:33 GMT Dutchy said:

And some can be wakened by soaking in old tea first.

Give them a test and a go.

Soaking in tea for 24hours or so is a very good trick andy,- I know someone that got 50 years old heirloom tomato seeds to germinate that way...

[Chuckles]

Jan 5, 2016 9:42:49 GMT coppice said:

Test a few of the onion seed on a damp paper towel in a baggie, to see if they will germinate

Or use a plastic container with a lid, you can try out several sorts of seeds in short rows as long as you mark the container accordingly

[andy]

Any particular tea....Does Earl Grey produce better crops then Tesco value ? Will green tea or fruit tea give healthier seedlings ? hehe

Never heard of this before so any advice on that would be good.....do I need to add milk and sugar ?

[Rosefriend]

Jan 11, 2016 18:06:33 GMT andy said:

Any particular tea....Does Earl Grey produce better crops then Tesco value ? Will green tea or fruit tea give healthier seedlings ? hehe

Never heard of this before so any advice on that would be good.....do I need to add milk and sugar ?

Cooooo andy, - even worse than just milk and sugar - black tea you need....but it needs to be grown on the Sri Lanka southern foothills. When you have found that it, is the 28th row, 4th,8th, 12th and 16th plants along - do only pluck the tips, at full moon, - dry at proper temperatures and make sure you do the tea dance before leaving the area.!!

Once you put the seeds in you must, really must have a temperature from 32,88456F - this is very important Andy. Leave the seeds in until a) they rot or b) start sprouting!!!!

[Rosefriend]

Jan 11, 2016 18:35:55 GMT Rosefriend said:

Jan 11, 2016 18:06:33 GMT andy said:

Any particular tea....Does Earl Grey produce better crops then Tesco value ? Will green tea or fruit tea give healthier seedlings ? hehe

Never heard of this before so any advice on that would be good.....do I need to add milk and sugar ?

Cooooo andy, - even worse than just milk and sugar - black tea you need....but it needs to be grown on the Sri Lanka southern foothills. When you have found that it, is the 28th row, 4th,8th, 12th and 16th plants along - do only pluck the tips, at full moon, - dry at proper temperatures and make sure you do the tea dance before leaving the area.!!

Once you put the seeds in you must, really must have a temperature from 32,88456F - this is very important Andy. Leave the seeds in until a) they rot or b) start sprouting!!!!

To be serious for a minute - some say to leave the seeds in the black tea for 24 hours - some say 12hours - I even know some that use Chamomile tea which is apparently good for killing off bacteria....not sure on that one though andy..

[Dutchy]

Any black tea I have been told but I am so going to try the tea dance

[pothead]

I have brachycome seeds that germinated well last year , they are now 8 years old Andy . Parsnips don`t keep but tomato seeds can store well for up to 5-6 years .


I found this link to a  list of some veg seed viability that might be useful


www.realseeds.co.uk/seedlife.html

[Rosefriend]

andy,Tig,coppice,Dutchy,Rosefriend,Chuckles,pothead,

One thing that I think does have a lot of bearing on Seed Viability is how they are kept....I have tom seeds that have germinated after 15 years....some received on trades have "died" after only 1/2 years.

I do know people that deep freeze their seeds - not sure I would but it is a possibility..

[Dutchy]

Only when you are dead certain the seeds are well and truly dry. If only one molecule of H2O is left in the seed it will burst and that is the end of your seed.

Dry and dark but not warm is the best and mine sit in boxes in a moderately warm room appr. 18*C.
So far no problems other than wrong time of harvest

Of course most of the European perennial seeds want some cold before starting so they go in pots and are sown in autumn. They are put outside where all the weather can get them and I only protect against blackbirds and other curious hungry creatures.

I have 5 pots of various plants outside right now, planks on top to guard them but a net would be better. Yes I am tooooo lazy to get one that small though I have bits and bobs at the lottie.