Yet Another Cycling Forum
Random Musings => Miscellany => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: andyoxon on 26 March, 2020, 04:36:37 pm
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Anyone have experience of using 'out of date' seed from those packets of commercial seeds. e.g. Moneymaker tomato seed from 2014 :)
Is it a case of may germinate, but not optimally..?
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Pretty well, yes.
What have you got to lose? Give them a go, but don't expect stunning results.
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A lot will depend on how you stored them, but as SteveC says, give it a try, why not.
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Thanks.
Planted tomatoes, parsely, and two types of chilli, in covered indoor germinating trays, so will see what happens...
ETA. and mustard & cress. All out of date.
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I think it varies massively but crop. IIRC parsnip don't last very well but some do better. If you can I think they recommended putting some on damp kitchen roll and seeing if anything happens
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yes, parsnip in particular need to be fairly fresh, >2 years and it's pretty poor germination
I bought quite a lot of new seed this year and have >90% so far.
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A timely thread, mine are 2007 vintage...
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Update.
6 yro tomato seeds: germinating fine :thumbsup: Some potted on.
No visible chilli or parsley activity yet...
old Mustard & cress failed
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Cool.
Next time grow something tastier than Moneymaker - they've got to be the worst of the ones you can grow yourself - in my opinion ;)
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Update.
6 yro tomato seeds: germinating fine :thumbsup: Some potted on.
Considering that they go right through the bowel and out t'other end...
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Out of my 2007 seeds I have Cherry and Moneymaker toms plus chilli and leeks germinated from a soaked kitchen paper test of 10 seeds of each.
No shows were the Broccoli Beetroot, Cabbage, sprouts and peppers.
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3 year old french bean - 20% germination
this year's runner bean - 90% germination
The only older seed I've had good success with this year is red chard
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Update.
6 yro tomato seeds: germinating fine :thumbsup: Some potted on.
No visible chilli or parsley activity yet...
old Mustard & cress failed
Both chilli and parsley benefit from warmth - if you have an airing cupboard it’s good place to start them. Chilli in particular can benefit from putting in a plastic bag too.
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Came here to ask about seeds too.
Have tried soaking the seed is peroxide https://balconygardenweb.com/soaking-seeds-in-hydrogen-peroxide-germination/ still failed as i left the seeds in peroxide for too long.
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Well I sowed some seeds yesterday. One packet had an expiry of 2017 and the rest were all 2011/2012. Perpetual spinach, spring onion, cayenne pepper, bell pepper, tomato and butternut squash sown and in the patio window.
Not expecting a great deal but nothing to lose if they don't germinate. It's not like I can get to B&Q at the moment anyway.
Though I have just now remembered that our little Tesco have got a little seed stand at the moment. Could pick up a couple packets when we next shop.
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Found some seeds that were over 10 years out of date.
Trying to see if they germinate by leaving them on a wet kitchen towel in a plastic bag.
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I tried some more 4-6 yrso seeds including chillis, squash, melon, basil - nothing, not one.
I now have 10 large tomato plants (2014 seeds) and around 20 getting bigger; itching to get ouside. Will probably plant out 5-7, swap some with the neighbour for other veg plants (they have allotment), and the rest will go ouside for passersby pickup...
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After the wet towel I have quite a few basil seedlings and all 6 courgette seeds have sprouted.
So potted them today in to poundshop multipurpose compost and lets see what comes up.
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Dez was clearing out the shed and found a load of parsnip seeds, best before 2009. I sprinkled them liberally around the place, but I doubt that we will get any parsnips rom them.
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Parsnips are one of those I would never try and use after the first year
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Parsnips are one of those I would never try and use after the first year
Agreed. Even fresh parsnip seed is not great at germination.
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Today planted...
Tomato: San Marzano 2
Chilli:
F1 Longhorn
Chocolate Habanero - 300K-400K+ Scoville :thumbsup:
Parsley & coriander.
Anyone else started yet?
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Last Autumn, while cycling past a huge field of poppies, I picked up a broken off seed head and took it home.
After drying off over the winter, I opened up the seed pod and planted several dozen seeds in a seed tray.
The seeds have now germinated and I now have seedlings an inch tall. I'll plant them out into the garden once the weather improves,
The poppies were being grown commercially for their petals and the field is referred to as The Confetti Farm by locals.
I've passed the remainder of the seeds on to various friends who have expressed an interest in growing some too.
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Update.
6 yro tomato seeds: germinating fine :thumbsup: Some potted on.
Considering that they go right through the bowel and out t'other end...
I understand that's how the railway workers know if there's dumping on the line...
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D is Not Happy.
His mini-greenhouse has been blown over by a gust of wind, emptying all the seed trays therein.
Some seedlings had looked quite promising. Will need to start again, methinks.
Still, we have several seed trays in the house.
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That's a shame. I only have two large seed trays, inside on a window sill.
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I think there are three in the bathroom and two on the windowsill on the stars.
I don't know how many were in the greenhouse.
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Y'day I received some wildflower seeds from the National Botanical Garden of Wales. Part of a project to improve mental health in these times. I normally only interested in growing food but am looking forward to how these seeds fare in my new to be front garden wildflower meadow. Today I sowed the seeds in module trays.
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I think there are three in the bathroom and two on the windowsill on the stars.
I don't know how many were in the greenhouse.
I presume the stars are for extra warmth. :demon:
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;D ;D ;D
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Potted on some of the tomato seedlings. Parsely & coriander coming up - going to run out of space inside; have to start getting creative... :)