Old Seeds

[Ian White]

Chaps

I have been given some seeds from a work mate,but i am not too sure if i should use them,on the packets there are dates,most of them have the date 2005,does this mean i carn't use them as they are out of date or does it not mater that much.

Thanks for reading this post,Ian

[oldherbaceous]

Morning Ian, some types of veg seed keep longer than others. But i would start a fresh if i was you.

[glallotments]

I would start fresh too. 2005 is a bit of a long way back and you don't know how the seeds have been kept.

Parsnips should always be bought fresh anyway

[Johnboy]

Hi Ian,
Many seeds germinate long after you would imagine they would but germination is only the begining of the process and old seeds generally lack vibrancy and although you may, and I mean may, get a result it really isn't worth going to all the hassle and ending up with poor results.
Fresh seeds should be used for the best results, assuming like most of us you are after the best results.
JB.

[MrsL]

Test a few on some damp paper in a warm place to see if they germinate - if so, then most of the packet should be viable. Most seeds are viable for quite a while. Ones that should be sown fresh, though, are carrot, parsley, parsnip and sweet cicely. I've grown good tomatoes from seed over 10 years old, and beans older than that.
Never heard the theory that the resulting plants "generally lack vibrancy", so will have a look into that.

[Cider Boys]

I always understood that seeds deteriate over time and can lead to poorer vigour even if they do germinate. I'm sure that Johnboy would know of the technical reasons for this. Having said that I often sow old seed and have had good results from them, I am at present lifting carrots (early nante) sown in early september from old seed. It all depends on the amount of space you have. If you want an early crop I chance sowing old seed very early, if it works then I'm happy and if it fails, I shrug my shoulders. However if I want to guarantee a good crop and not waste time than I recommend sowing fresh seed at the recommended time.

Barney

[Johnboy]

Hi Barney,
Basically with every seed there is always a supply of food for the growing embryo and with old seeds the embryo may well germinate but the supply of food is severely restricted. It is like a baby being deprived of 'mothers milk' it may well survive but it is a sickly child.
Does this make sense to you?
JB.

[Cider Boys]

Thanks for the info Johnboy.

Barney

[freddy]

Hi folks. Interesting thread this, as I too was given some old seed (2005), Kelsae (onions) which I was going to sow around the end of December. I guess I'll have to buy some new seed and HOPEFULLY grow some whoppers (relatively speaking)
Cheers...freddy.

[Ian White]

Thanks for the replys chaps, i think i will start off fresh and try a few of the old seeds on some damp paper just to see what happen's.

All the best,Ian