germinating old seeds

I have some 10 year old seeds that i have been trying to germinate using the paper towel method and put in a warm dark place, some of the seeds are open but the tap root is not coming out of the seeds.

should i try my luck putting them in soil or leave them for a couple more days?

Depends how lucky you are feeling luck is on your side ...getting ten year old seeds tap out ....I have had taproots under a quarter inch left them in towel and only grew a little more in two days three quarter inch is what I shoot for but just try to prevent them from drying out or drowning them..if you have some to spare try Both of your choices “experiment”good luck brotha

Old seeds benefit from an h202 soak for 12 hours-I like 30 ml 3% h2o2 added to 500 ml water. Wash hands, then transfer direct to medium. Skip paper towels forever. This guide has good advice: https://www.mandalaseeds.com/Guides/Germination-Guide. I keep the media moist with diluted fulvic acid/liquid seaweed-both are proven in studies to increase germination rate. The h2o2 does two things, it chemically scarifies the seed coat, increasing germination rates and it helps to sterilize it, which helps prevent damping off.

farangar said:

I have some 10 year old seeds that i have been trying to germinate using the paper towel method and put in a warm dark place, some of the seeds are open but the tap root is not coming out of the seeds.

should i try my luck putting them in soil or leave them for a couple more days?

Click to expand...

The ones that opened sound like they drowned
Scuffing beans with sand paper can soften the shell

I've popped seeds that were 4-5 year old. Don't soak them in water or use the paper towel method though. I used a Rapid Rooter ($18 for 50 of them on amazon) and just put the seed directly into that. Fill a small rubbermaid container with a small layer of water and sit the Rapid Rooters inside the container. Cover it with saran wrap and poke a few holes in it. Put it on your grow light/cable box/game console whatever. Put a little water in the container as needed, few days later the seed should have broken the surface. You're good to put your Rapid Rooter directly into it's final home.

I fopund a couple dozen seeds today in a old drawer so Im trying (4) of the 11 year 2 mos old seeds right now. Good stuff and worth trying. I roughed them up with a emory board (fingernail file) but damaged the Dinafem Blue Widow and after two hours of soaking i thought it would be better in a rapid rooter to keep from waterlogging. The other three sank after three hours or so. I'll pull them out and put under in paper towels with fingers crossed.

In my experience OP if they sputter out and the tap root doesn't stretch they won't grow.