30 year old seeds. Here we go.

[Modern Selections]

Putting the seeds in the fridge a few days before germination can sometimes trigger old seeds to pop.

Lots of tips and tricks out there, best of luck!!

 

[bongsmoker421]

I've had luck with 40 year old beans! You can do it! Soak them in 20 part water and 1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide for 12-16 hours then plant them directly into soil about half an inch. Use a cfl super close to give heat around 80f-85f gave me best results. They take 3-5 days to sprout, some 6-8 days. Good luck!

 

[SkunkSkunkSkunk]

Good luck man! Back in April of this year I planted about 100 seeds that were stashed in a freezer for over 35 years. 26 of the seeds sprouted in dirt, and as of right now, 7 months later (November 4th) these plants are still growing outside. These are the slowest and tallest pot plants I've ever friggin seen in my life. If I didn't pinch them back multiple times, they'd be at least 15-20 feet tall (there's no way I could ever grow these indoors). But, so far they've survived temps as low as 27F at night and doing well. I lost a few from frost, but those had mold so not too much of a loss. Unfortunately I let one of the males go too long and he fertilized everybody and now they're loaded with seeds.
I'll be following your post! Hope they hatch!

 

[pegboy]

Update #2

Been real busy but just a quick update. 12 more seeds geminated and 12 more duds. Not good. Going to pop some new seeds and get a new grow going but its not over yet. Round three will be in the works shortly I'm not giving up quite yet. Next post will be when I have some new news. Good or bad. Fingers still crossed.

 

[Sfpyro420]

Update #2

Been real busy but just a quick update. 12 more seeds geminated and 12 more duds. Not good. Going to pop some new seeds and get a new grow going but its not over yet. Round three will be in the works shortly I'm not giving up quite yet. Next post will be when I have some new news. Good or bad. Fingers still crossed.

I’m telling you bro, hydrogen peroxide and water in a little container just toss the seeds straight in there ,

 

[pegboy]

I’m telling you bro, hydrogen peroxide and water in a little container just toss the seeds straight in there ,

Thats what I've done. 24 hours in water and hydrogen peroxide mix and then into paper towels.

 

[bongsmoker421]

Thats what I've done. 24 hours in water and hydrogen peroxide mix and then into paper towels.

In the paper towel method you have to play the warmth and moisture dance. Just drop them in soil and water it. Skip the paper towel method and they'll more likely to pop. Old seeds don't do well in paper towel method. Try straight into soil

 

[Sfpyro420]

Thats what I've done. 24 hours in water and hydrogen peroxide mix and then into paper towels.

Don’t remove them into paper towels , just leave them in the water this is how I germinate all my seeds now no more paper towel. Once the tap root is out I plant

 

[pegboy]

0-18..... Running a test grow for a breeder and then I'll get back at it in a few months. So far not so good. haha

 

[farmerfischer]

Try some g.a.3 ( gibberbalic acid) * spelling..? Just rinse any sprout real good afterwards or the ga3 will cause them to stretch alot..

 

[NotTheRobot]

Putting the seeds in the fridge a few days before germination can sometimes trigger old seeds to pop.

Lots of tips and tricks out there, best of luck!!

This is a good suggestion.

I left some older seed in the fridge for a couple years and then started getting results. They seem to change color and darken up over time so I suspect it's a humidity improvement much gentler than dumping them in water for a couple days.

 

[IndooorGardnerOhio]

So finally here we go. 30+ year old seeds given to me from a good friend. Some of them I have no idea what they are and some I think have a good chance of being a Northern Lights I used to grow back around 1993. Thinking back (its been a long time) I remember thet NL were very indica dominant so I'm thinking they were not NL#5. I hope to find out. If these pop its going to be a super fun grow. Worst case I'll get to smoke the same genetics I smoked back in the day. Fingers crossed. Comment welcome.

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If you have any left, Try an over night soak in 1 ounce of water with 1ml of Humic Acid Liquid in it, I have done this with 20+ year old tomato seeds and hit a 90% Germination.

 

[conor c]

If you have any left, Try an over night soak in 1 ounce of water with 1ml of Humic Acid Liquid in it, I have done this with 20+ year old tomato seeds and hit a 90% Germination.

Funny you mention them cos Its also worth soaking your water in tomato seeds the night before too they contain enzymes that help germination as they say every lil helps

 

[IndooorGardnerOhio]

Funny you mention them cos Its also worth soaking your water in tomato seeds the night before too they contain enzymes that help germination as they say every lil helps

I typically do this method with most all of my garden seeds that are store bought, because well you never know how those seeds were stored, or how long they sat in a warehouse somewhere. But most of the time, I just buy plants already started so that I dont have to worry about it, with garden plants anyway lol

 

[weedstoner420]

On the one hand, I hope you succeed with at least a few of those seeds.

On the other hand, it would be kinda funny to have a grow journal that never got past the germination stage...

My 2 cents - put some in soil over a heat mat. Microbes play a role in seed germination, too, no sense in trying to sterilize them...