Author Topic: Growing from seeds...  (Read 11363 times)

Growing from seeds...
« on: 26 March, 2020, 04:36:37 pm »
Anyone have experience of using 'out of date' seed from those packets of commercial seeds.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..?
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #1 on: 26 March, 2020, 05:04:06 pm »
Pretty well, yes.
What have you got to lose? Give them a go, but don't expect stunning results.
"No matter how slow you go, you're still lapping everybody on the couch."

Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #2 on: 26 March, 2020, 05:48:21 pm »
A lot will depend on how you stored them, but as SteveC says, give it a try, why not.

Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #3 on: 26 March, 2020, 10:30:23 pm »
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  All out of date.
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #4 on: 27 March, 2020, 08:48:32 am »
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

ElyDave

  • Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society member 263583
Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #5 on: 27 March, 2020, 09:59:33 pm »
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.
“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” –Charles Dickens

jiberjaber

  • ... Fancy Pants \o/ ...
  • ACME S&M^2
Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #6 on: 27 March, 2020, 10:20:15 pm »
A timely thread, mine are 2007 vintage...
Regards,

Joergen

Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #7 on: 07 April, 2020, 12:49:15 pm »
Update. 

6 yro tomato seeds: germinating fine  :thumbsup:  Some potted on.
No visible chilli or parsley activity yet...
old Mustard & cress failed
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

caerau

  • SR x 3 - PBP fail but 1090 km - hey - not too bad
Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #8 on: 07 April, 2020, 02:39:21 pm »
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  ;)
It's a reverse Elvis thing.

T42

  • Apprentice geezer
Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #9 on: 07 April, 2020, 03:51:06 pm »
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've dusted off all those old bottles and set them up straight

jiberjaber

  • ... Fancy Pants \o/ ...
  • ACME S&M^2
Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #10 on: 07 April, 2020, 05:37:26 pm »
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.

Regards,

Joergen

ElyDave

  • Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society member 263583
Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #11 on: 22 April, 2020, 08:16:56 am »
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
“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” –Charles Dickens

Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #12 on: 22 April, 2020, 09:04:19 pm »
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.
We are making a New World (Paul Nash, 1918)

Gattopardo

  • Lord of the sith
  • Overseaing the building of the death star
Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #13 on: 22 April, 2020, 10:35:36 pm »
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.

Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #14 on: 23 April, 2020, 07:00:38 am »
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.
Miles cycled 2014 = 3551.5 (Target 7300 :()
Miles cycled 2013 = 6141.4
Miles cycled 2012 = 4038.1

Gattopardo

  • Lord of the sith
  • Overseaing the building of the death star
Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #15 on: 12 May, 2020, 11:35:58 am »
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.

Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #16 on: 12 May, 2020, 11:42:14 am »
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...
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

Gattopardo

  • Lord of the sith
  • Overseaing the building of the death star
Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #17 on: 16 May, 2020, 03:09:51 pm »
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.

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
    • Stuff mostly about weather
Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #18 on: 25 May, 2020, 11:20:49 pm »
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.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

ElyDave

  • Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society member 263583
Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #19 on: 26 May, 2020, 06:01:27 am »
Parsnips are one of those I would never try and use after the first year
“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” –Charles Dickens

Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #20 on: 26 May, 2020, 07:45:00 am »
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.
We are making a New World (Paul Nash, 1918)

Re: Growing from seeds...
« Reply #21 on: 24 March, 2021, 03:33:29 pm »
Today planted... 

Tomato:    San Marzano 2

Chilli:
F1 Longhorn
Chocolate Habanero -  300K-400K+  Scoville    :thumbsup:

Parsley & coriander.

Anyone else started yet?
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

Re: Growing from seeds...
« Reply #22 on: 25 March, 2021, 08:05:24 am »
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.
I don't want to grow old gracefully. I want to grow old disgracefully.

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: Packet seed shelf life?
« Reply #23 on: 28 March, 2021, 09:42:10 pm »
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...

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: Growing from seeds...
« Reply #24 on: 28 March, 2021, 09:47:31 pm »
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.