THE GARDENING GOUGHS RETURN WITH SPRING TIPS

You’re Asking: Are Those Old Seeds Still Any Good?

By Robert Gough, 3-27-07

You may have seeds left over from last planting season, or maybe from several seasons back. The question is, are they still good?

That depends on the species and on how the seeds were stored. If they were stored in a cool (40 to 50 degrees), dry place, most will be good for several years. Some species, such as sweet corn, parsnip, onion and leek, lose viability rapidly and should probably be discarded. If you can’t afford to just throw them away, go ahead and plant them, but sow them twice as thickly as you normally would.

To test the viability of your seeds, count out 100 small seeds, 25 if they are large. Wrap them in a moist but not wet paper towel and place the package in a glass jar. Set the jar in a warm place and cover it with a poly bag to keep the toweling moist. After 7 to 10 days, open the toweling and figure the percentage of seed that has germinated. Most fresh seed has a germination rate of 85 to 95 percent. If your seed has less than 50 percent, discard it.

For more planting tips, get the free fact sheet by clicking on “Can I Grow That Here?”

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