Don't throw out your old seeds!! The only tomato seed I have is 10 yrs old. I hadn't bought new because we buy our seedlings from a local nursery. Well I threw about a half package of each in some starting trays. Getting sprouts!! I cant tell you scientifically what the germination rate is but if I had to geuess it is 10-15%. Pretty dismal but I will have tomatoes. I also started some luffas from 2010 seed but nothing yet on those. SO if you have old seed give it a shot. Worst thing is they don't grow. Or more importantly keep tabd on the dates for all your seed!!
Seed Old seeds
- Thread starter mecoastie
- Start date
Raggedyman
Res ipsa loquitur
I have some great super hot peppers from Italy that I lost the seed for . . . unexpectedly found some from 2012 and did what summerthyme recommended - I soaked them for 1/2 hr in H2O2 then planted . . . planted them on 3.31. my experience is that it usually takes peppers 10-14 days to sprout, so we'll know if they're back or not in another week - 10 days. I sure hope they come back - they were given to me by my ex FIL and came directly from the mother land. he passed in 2015. if I've lost them I'll never get them again.
Raggedyman... do you have some sort of heat mat for those peppers? Maggie (our Border Collie pup) not only chewed every wire on my plant shelves, she chewed the plug off my heat mat. Sigh... winter puppies! Hubby rewired the plant shelf, but didn't get to the heat mat before I started tomato and pepper seeds. The tomatoes all sprouted within 5 days... the peppers still weren't showing at day 9.
Hubby fixed the heat mat... I put it under the flats... 36 hours later I swear every pepper seed sprouted.
If you have a heating pad for home medical use, you can use it... just put a cake rack or some other spacing mechanism between it and the flat, turn it on the lowest temp, and stand back and watch!
Summerthyme
Hubby fixed the heat mat... I put it under the flats... 36 hours later I swear every pepper seed sprouted.
If you have a heating pad for home medical use, you can use it... just put a cake rack or some other spacing mechanism between it and the flat, turn it on the lowest temp, and stand back and watch!
Summerthyme
AlaskaSue
North to the Future
I have a lot of old seeds that I'm using this year. I did some sprout tests on the oldest, pack date 2008, and almost every one of them gave me at least 80% rate, including onion seeds. Delphinium had the lowest at 25%, but I expected that. I did not freeze the seed but it's never very warm where I keep them boxed up. Repotting a bunch of seedlings into bigger 6-packs this morning and then going to do some more seed. It's nice to see something growing right now 
But I long for my old greenhouse!
But I long for my old greenhouse!
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
tell us more about this heat mat please!
It's similar to this one (but I paid quite a bit more... there are some crazy low prices out there, but mine has been working for almost 18 years... not sure of the durability of some of the cheap ones...)
www.zenhydro.com
The difference in germination speed and percentage in heat lovers (peppers, vine crops, tomatoes, although they grow well enough without added heat) is amazing. I only use it for germination ... turn it off once the seedlings are up and growing.
Summerthyme
iPower 48" x 20" Large Warm Hydroponic Seedling Heat Mat and 68-108å¡F Digital Thermostat Control Combo Set for Seed Germination
Seedling heat mat is the new, stronger heating wire and thicker multi-layer construction Heat mat warms 10-20°F above ambient room temperature to improve vegetable, herb, and flower seed germination Thermostat provides constant temperature control for homebrewing, germination and fermentation...
www.zenhydro.com
The difference in germination speed and percentage in heat lovers (peppers, vine crops, tomatoes, although they grow well enough without added heat) is amazing. I only use it for germination ... turn it off once the seedlings are up and growing.
Summerthyme
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
It's similar to this one (but I paid quite a bit more... there are some crazy low prices out there, but mine has been working for almost 18 years... not sure of the durability of some of the cheap ones...)
iPower 48" x 20" Large Warm Hydroponic Seedling Heat Mat and 68-108å¡F Digital Thermostat Control Combo Set for Seed Germination
Seedling heat mat is the new, stronger heating wire and thicker multi-layer construction Heat mat warms 10-20°F above ambient room temperature to improve vegetable, herb, and flower seed germination Thermostat provides constant temperature control for homebrewing, germination and fermentation...
The difference in germination speed and percentage in heat lovers (peppers, vine crops, tomatoes, although they grow well enough without added heat) is amazing. I only use it for germination ... turn it off once the seedlings are up and growing.
Summerthyme
Thank you, I’ll order one.
dioptase
Veteran Member
Thanks for the encouragement to try old seeds! I keep my seeds in my "lab fridge" (small wine cooler fridge we bought just to get my seeds and plant things out of the food fridge). I haven't been growing from seed the past few years because I too was buying everything from the nursery. But there are some things I want to get started this weekend from seed, and I wasn't able to get new seed for everything, so here's hoping!
Tarryn
Senior Member
I had some older marconi pepper seeds that I couldn't get to germinate even when they were new. I soaked a few in h202 and put them on a heating pad for a couple of hours. I have one that has sprouted now. Woohoo. Thank you for the tip. I'm testing some other old herb seeds varieties.
Thank you so much!!!!
Thank you so much!!!!
I'm happy it works for you! The H2O2 so a really does seem to make a difference, unless the seeds are totally dead... then you're out of luck. But you won't know without trying!
Summerthyme
Summerthyme
NoMoreLibs
Kill Commie's, Every Single One Of Them!
We've got an experiment going. We bought a bucket of survival seeds back in early 2010. Just found the bucket during our prep to move to da house in da woods.
All the seeds were sealed in mylar and the packet we opened, radishes, looked great, like the day we bought them.
The radishes are now planted and we're waiting. I'm pretty sure they'll pop. We're still using our Roma seeds from years ago and they pop like crazy - just have to fight the stringy stem issue, but that's another thread and project.
All the seeds were sealed in mylar and the packet we opened, radishes, looked great, like the day we bought them.
The radishes are now planted and we're waiting. I'm pretty sure they'll pop. We're still using our Roma seeds from years ago and they pop like crazy - just have to fight the stringy stem issue, but that's another thread and project.
Raggedyman
Res ipsa loquitur
well I'm sorry to say this - but Uba's hot pepper seed soaked in H2O2 was an epic FAIL . . . and we did have them on seed sprouting heat mats. major disappointment BUT there is still hope for Uba's hot peppers from the mother land! I was digging around in the big chest freezer for some creamed corn we did last year and lo and behold there was a package of these peppers I had frozen FRESH - from 2010 laying in the bottom of the basket of creamed corn! I planted those on 4.16 . . . we'll see what happens with them
Raggedyman
Res ipsa loquitur
thanks - so do I - if I've lost that seed its gone forever from the Raggedy seed bank - it came from Italy and I've never found anything here quite like these little red peppers
Raggedyman
Res ipsa loquitur
that's excellent advice - thanks very much!!!!
NoMoreLibs
Kill Commie's, Every Single One Of Them!
Our radishes from the 10+ year old pack that we found are sprouting. They went in on Saturday. Pretty good.
dioptase
Veteran Member
Thanks for the tip on H2O2 and old seeds. I tried that with some old basil seeds, and they are coming up now! (Undiluted H2O2 in a small plastic up, soaked for 30 min, rinsed and then planted.) I also tried it with some old bunching onion seeds I had harvested several years ago - those are still to come up but I feel pretty hopeful.
Well the 2002 cauliflower was a dud as were the 2010 luffas. Cauliflower nothing started. Going to leave it for a few more days just in case. The luffas 2 started but petered out. I just found some 2003 hulless oats and spring wheat. Wheat will be going in this week in the front yard. Maybe the oats as well if I can talk the boss into appropriating the whole area.
dioptase
Veteran Member
I sowed 1 6-pack of the bunching onion seeds, which I had saved from 2015 (from my own plants). As of today, 4 of the cells are up, so the seeds are taking their own sweet time to germinate, but they ARE germinating.
Thanks for clue-ing me in on the onion seed life, though. I'll make sure to save some seed each year from them, from now on. I was harvesting the same plants for salads from 2011-2019 (I don't pull the plant, but rather tear off leaves), but this last winter something went through the patch and now I only have the one survivor left. I really like this strain (a Japanese strain 'Red Beard') so I don't want to lose it. (Yes, it is still available online, but I'd rather not have to repurchase it.)
Thanks for clue-ing me in on the onion seed life, though. I'll make sure to save some seed each year from them, from now on. I was harvesting the same plants for salads from 2011-2019 (I don't pull the plant, but rather tear off leaves), but this last winter something went through the patch and now I only have the one survivor left. I really like this strain (a Japanese strain 'Red Beard') so I don't want to lose it. (Yes, it is still available online, but I'd rather not have to repurchase it.)
I'd also suggest becoming a member and then... if your freezer "find" is viable, and I'll bet they may be... trade sone of those seeds to other members. It will allow you to pay tribute to In a, if you wish, but will also let there be multiple reservoirs for seed stock, which may allow the variety to survive.
Summerthyme
Raggedyman
Res ipsa loquitur
I'm sorry to say the seed from the frozen peppers did NOT germinate. I took the peppers directly from the freezer thawed a few harvested the seeds and planted them - sadly NO LUCK. I still have seed from these that is drying. I thought I would take a few of these and soak them in H2O2 wash in fresh water and retry . . . beyond that I don't think there are other options left.
any other thots or suggestions to try and get these to sprout? headed over to seed savers now
Bps1691
Veteran Member
IF you plan on doing this long term, you need to do it right. There are some seeds that store well if properly prepared at harvest time, packaged properly and stored correctly.
There are some vegetables that don't store well over time. I've had problems over the years with some types of lettuce and a few other varieties.
I've had some seeds that I've saved that when packed right and stored right that have been viable up to 5 -8 years after stored. The germination rate wasn't the best, but I got enough to grow that I saved the seeds from them to build up stocks again. I've also had a few times I've used seed specially stored in a freezer for over 10 years that germinated and grew well in a test I did a few years back.
I still have a few seed lines for open pollinated varieties that the I got from my grandmother/grand father 30 years ago (they'd been using them for who knows how long before that) that I'm still using. NOT the same seeds, but seeds that were planted every couple of years and then properly prepared and stored for a few more years, before pulling them out and cycling through again.
The book I started with was the first addition of Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners, which I think is out of print. You might be able to find one used somewhere.
I've used seed saver exchange several times during the years to get something I was looking for that I couldn't find anywhere else and they have some basic information on seed saving-
Seed Saver Exchange
How to Save Seeds
www.seedsavers.org
… their a good source for several things, but they are currently closed to any new orders
Here's another basic overview with an estimated time of storage
How Long Do Seeds Last? (Plus a Cheat Sheet on Seed Life)
To the newbies to gathering and saving your own seeds, you have to start with Open Pollinated varieties, hybrids (even F1's) don't breed true and the seed from them isn't worth trying to save or use.
There are some vegetables that don't store well over time. I've had problems over the years with some types of lettuce and a few other varieties.
I've had some seeds that I've saved that when packed right and stored right that have been viable up to 5 -8 years after stored. The germination rate wasn't the best, but I got enough to grow that I saved the seeds from them to build up stocks again. I've also had a few times I've used seed specially stored in a freezer for over 10 years that germinated and grew well in a test I did a few years back.
I still have a few seed lines for open pollinated varieties that the I got from my grandmother/grand father 30 years ago (they'd been using them for who knows how long before that) that I'm still using. NOT the same seeds, but seeds that were planted every couple of years and then properly prepared and stored for a few more years, before pulling them out and cycling through again.
The book I started with was the first addition of Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners, which I think is out of print. You might be able to find one used somewhere.
I've used seed saver exchange several times during the years to get something I was looking for that I couldn't find anywhere else and they have some basic information on seed saving-
Seed Saver Exchange
How to Save Seeds
How to Save Seeds - Seed Savers Exchange
Learn the basics of how to save seeds from your garden. Saving seeds has many benefits and with a few tips and an understanding of what to grow, how to plant, and how to collect seeds, you'll be on your way to seed saving in no time.
www.seedsavers.org
… their a good source for several things, but they are currently closed to any new orders
Here's another basic overview with an estimated time of storage
How Long Do Seeds Last? (Plus a Cheat Sheet on Seed Life)
To the newbies to gathering and saving your own seeds, you have to start with Open Pollinated varieties, hybrids (even F1's) don't breed true and the seed from them isn't worth trying to save or use.
Darn! Yeah... I was wondering if the "wet" conditions they were frozen in might have caused problems. Shoot!
You might want to shoot a PM to StanB... he's a commercial greenhouse/hydroponics grower (veggies, not weed!) He doesn't think much of the H2O2 treatment, but mentioned that bleach helps soften the seed coat and improves germ on old seeds. I don't know what dilution he uses, though.
Unfortunately, nothing can help if the seeds are actually dead :-(
Summerthyme
Raggedyman
Res ipsa loquitur
thanks Summer - my visit to Seed Savers found two similar looking peppers - one being the "fish pepper" - but it and the other were only rated as "medium hot" these were NUCLEAR. thanks for the suggestion to PM Stan - heading there now. . .
Raggedy I am sorry you are having bad luck. One thing to remember is that unless pepper heat is expressed in actual Scoville units then the amount of heat is subject to personal tastes. For trial purposes Fish pepper is available from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. Hope you find what you are looking for.
dioptase
Veteran Member
Sorry that you may have lost that strain, Raggedy. 
Thanks for that article, Bps. I have a book somewhere on storing seeds but I confess that I've been too lazy to look at it, so that article is a nice handy summary (and more impetus to save that onion seed now every year - I'm actually amazed now that those almost 5 year old seeds are germinating). Fwiw, I store my saved seeds in coin envelopes (or the original package if I only used some of the seeds) in a wine cooler/fridge which is temperature set for 35 F. (I am aware that F1 does not come true from seed, but that is good to point out for the newbies.)
Thanks for that article, Bps. I have a book somewhere on storing seeds but I confess that I've been too lazy to look at it, so that article is a nice handy summary (and more impetus to save that onion seed now every year - I'm actually amazed now that those almost 5 year old seeds are germinating). Fwiw, I store my saved seeds in coin envelopes (or the original package if I only used some of the seeds) in a wine cooler/fridge which is temperature set for 35 F. (I am aware that F1 does not come true from seed, but that is good to point out for the newbies.)
Raggedyman
Res ipsa loquitur
thank you for the tip . . . appreciating your absolutely correct observation concerning scoville units - I did go to southern and looked - these little red Italian peppers were so hot it required a mask to clean them if you intended to breath and gloves to protect your hands.
I tried something this morning . . . took enough of the previously fresh frozen and now dried seed to make about 30 sets and soaked them for 35 - 40 min in H2O2. rinsed in fresh water and re planted. initially I had taken the previously fresh frozen seed directly from the thawed pepper and planted it - an epic FAIL. we'll see what happens with this attempt.
if these that I started this morning don't germinate I will get several varieties of hot red chilies this fall and start over.
I'd been under the impression that frozen seed would keep almost indefinitely - can sombody tell me - is that real or imagined?
Don't know about forever, but seed stored in the freezer is (I think) supposed to be properly dried.
And good luck with the peppers. You could even do a search for hot pepper seeds. Bet you would find a lot of interesting stuff.
ETA: or do a search for hot Italian peppers. Good luck.
And good luck with the peppers. You could even do a search for hot pepper seeds. Bet you would find a lot of interesting stuff.
ETA: or do a search for hot Italian peppers. Good luck.