Check seeds

Like food, seeds have a shelf life. Find out how to test whether yours are 'viable' in our guide, check seeds. Sowing seed that is old is a bit of a gamble. It might germinate well, but it might not.

There is an easy way to tell if the seeds inside an old seed pack are still good — before going through the time and trouble of planting the seeds in the garden to find out. Seed packets typically state the planting year that the seeds were packaged for as well as the germination rate. As years go by and the seeds age, the germination rate declines, faster or slower depending on the variety of seeds and how the seeds were stored. Seeds that you received from a friend or from a seed swap may have no date at all and were likely never tested for their germination rate. Seed packets typically state the planting year that the seeds were packaged for, but seeds that you received from a friend or from a seed swap may not have that helpful information.

Check seeds

Raise your hand if at this time of year you have walked out into the garage or wherever you have stored your seed stash from the previous year or years, and wondered, "Hmmmm, are these seeds any good? Will they sprout begin to grow, give off shoots or buds? Will I be wasting my time and energy planting these seeds? My hand is up. I have seeds flower and vegetable left over from last year, seeds collected, and seeds given to me from others. So what can you do? There are a couple of tests that can be used to see if the seeds in question will germinate process by which an organism grows from a seed or similar structure or are viable able to take root or grow. One method to check for seed viability is the water test. Take the seeds and place them in a container of water. Let the seeds sit for 15 minutes. If the seeds sink, they are still viable; if they float, discard, because they probably will not sprout. Sow the seeds directly in the soil if it is the proper planting time or thoroughly dry seeds and plant when it is the appropriate time. Take at least 10 seeds from the package of seeds in question and place them in a row on top of a slightly damp paper towel.

Read more on vigor here.

Our kids love this sneak peek! Or maybe you have some envelopes of seeds you harvested yourself and forgot to date. Yep, I have some of those, too! Sometimes, I use Option 1 and plant as usual. Sometimes, I hedge my bets by planting thickly as in Option 2, but honestly, I try to avoid thinning except for greens!

There is an easy way to tell if the seeds inside an old seed pack are still good — before going through the time and trouble of planting the seeds in the garden to find out. Seed packets typically state the planting year that the seeds were packaged for as well as the germination rate. As years go by and the seeds age, the germination rate declines, faster or slower depending on the variety of seeds and how the seeds were stored. Seeds that you received from a friend or from a seed swap may have no date at all and were likely never tested for their germination rate. Seed packets typically state the planting year that the seeds were packaged for, but seeds that you received from a friend or from a seed swap may not have that helpful information.

Check seeds

Home » Gardening. Are you wondering if the seeds you intended to use last year are still good? Or, what about those heirloom seeds you got as a wedding favor a few years back? If the germination rate is low, but there is still some viability for example, maybe only 2 of the seeds in your test sprouted , simply plant more of those seeds in the garden, knowing that not all may sprout. The key to keeping your seeds viable for a few seasons is proper storage. Be sure to do the following:. Below is a list of the approximate lifespan of your favorite vegetable, herb, and flower seeds when stored properly.

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I have several packets from Baker Creek that I bought two years ago. Seed left in storage will decrease in quality over time. We have a South African version of our website. A low number of sprouts will mean you need to plant more thickly, and a high number of sprouts means you can plant at the regular seed density. You may also like these posts Back to Advice Fill in border gaps Weeding borders Dig beds in winter. Place 10 of the seeds to be tested onto the paper towel, then carefully fold the wet paper towel over the seeds. Germination times vary between veg, but after two weeks most viable seed should have sprouted. If your seeds are of the slow-germinating variety, you may need to spritz the paper towel with more water to keep it damp. Try to keep the test seeds in conditions that closely match the ideal germination requirements for the seeds. If stored properly, some seeds can last for years. Or just use separate towels.

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Have you done your own seed germination test? If the germination rate is still relatively close to the original rate, it is worth sowing. Seal the bag and place it in a warm above 70 degrees location. Option 3 — Do a seed germination test to see what percentage are still viable! Next, use a permanent marker to record date and type of seed on the outside of the bag. Are there noticeable deformities in some seedlings? And all a restored at room temperature. As years go by and the seeds age, the germination rate declines, faster or slower depending on the variety of seeds and how the seeds were stored. It will tell you if the seed is worth sowing at all, and how much to sow. How do you increase your success with seeds? Aaron Steil is the consumer horticulture extension specialist at Iowa State University where he works with county Extension offices across the state to answer home gardening questions for all Iowans. All you need is paper towels, plastic bags such as sandwich or freezer bags , a small receptacle and a marker pen. Read more on vigor here.