How long do seeds last

[jjmd]

It has been a number of years since I have done any kind of growing. I do have seeds that has been sitting around for a few years now. How long will seeds last for they've been kept dry and pretty much in the dark

 

[eyderbuddy]

So far as i understand seed viability drops after 6 months, then sharply after 3 years of storage. Even if so, i've heard of people germinating 10 year old seeds successfully... and even older.

Just try it

 

[Boatguy]

I just popped a 10 pack about 10yrs old. 2 germinated.
No fancy storage. They were in a lock box in a closet for all those years.

They were alot slower at the start compared to newer seeds.

 

[jjmd]

So far as i understand seed viability drops after 6 months, then sharply after 3 years of storage. Even if so, i've heard of people germinating 10 year old seeds successfully... and even older.

Just try it

Thank you.

Happy New Year.

 

[jjmd]

I just popped a 10 pack about 10yrs old. 2 germinated.
No fancy storage. They were in a lock box in a closet for all those years.

They were alot slower at the start compared to newer seeds.

I am doing a water soaking until they sink then doing paper towel until open.

Did you do anything special?

Thank you.

Happy New Year

 

[Boatguy]

I am doing a water soaking until they sink then doing paper towel until open.

Did you do anything special?

Thank you.

Happy New Year

I did water soak, then straight into jiffy peat pellets.
I have killed a few using the paper towel method, so i dont do that anymore.

 

[macsnax]

There's a handful of methods to help old beans pop. Roughing up the shell of the seed, you can line a small container with sandpaper and shake them around inside to help the shell open easier. A soak in URB seems to work well too. And then there's a peroxide soak, it can help deliver a little bit of oxygen and will help kill microorganisms that can dampen off the little guys.

 

[jjmd]

There's a handful of methods to help old beans pop. Roughing up the shell of the seed, you can line a small container with sandpaper and shake them around inside to help the shell open easier. A soak in URB seems to work well too. And then there's a peroxide soak, it can help deliver a little bit of oxygen and will help kill microorganisms that can dampen off the little guys.

Thank you.

Happy New Year

 

[xtsho]

Viability of seeds is dependent on how they have been stored. Hot environments are not good for seed storage which is why it's better to store seeds in a cool environment. The environment the seeds have been in will determine their viability.

You can treat old seeds with GA3 "Gibberellic Acid" to potentially help with germination.

 

[bulla]

had about 5000 plus ice seeds they sprouted good when I needed them so I put them in a tupper wear container and stored them about 4 years just this last summer I tried about 10... nothing then about 50... nothing then I just took them all and scattered in my garden with some fresh soil on top not a one popped ...they were kept in a dry cool place in the dark my closet so I don't know what happened .