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Is it worth worth sowing old vegetable seeds ?

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  • Is it worth worth sowing old vegetable seeds ?

    Is it worth sewing old seeds ?

    I have quite a few packets of vegetable seed, some packed in 2015 and 2016

    is it worth sewing these, or will it just be a waste of time

    I know some seeds (parsnip being at least one) that will not grow if it is old, but are others OK ?

    thank you

  • #2
    Test a few seeds on some damp paper to see if they germinate.
    If you sow 10 and 5 germinate you'll have an idea whether to sow them thickly or not. If less than 5 germinate its probably best to buy new ones.

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    • #3
      I sowed some old cape gooseberry seeds only one has germinated,its precious but I wonder if it’ll be a weak plant,I’ll sow more seeds & try & get a few decent looking seedlings that’s all I do,sometimes you get a load of good seedlings but it’s a risk with things like carrots,waiting so long & not knowing what it’s gonna look like when you pull it up. Some old 2015 tomato seeds have germinated here,it’s a relief to see them appear I can save some seeds from the best plant
      Location : Essex

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      • #4
        I always sow old seeds. Usually a lot more than I need, to increase chances of getting some germination.
        Sometimes I end up with loads, sometimes nothing. More often than not, I get something come up. Either way I'm happy because I've given them a chance. Plus I enjoy sowing seeds, so if I have to do it again it's not a problem.

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        • #5
          When I advised testing for viability earlier I should have added ...................but I don't.
          The really old ones are scattered randomly in an out of the way corner and sometimes all manner of surprising items grow.
          If you have a new plot, pop down to L1dl and buy some cheap, fresh seeds to start you off and experiment with the older ones.

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          • #6
            Have a read at this vine link, old seeds last longer than you think.

            https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ing_96272.html
            Location....East Midlands.

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            • #7
              Definitely worth trying them but...........

              The big issue is timing if they don't come so bear that in mind as for instance with carrots you could lose 4 weeks or so of growing time waiting for them to appear and then they don't
              Last edited by Aberdeenplotter; 19-03-2019, 04:43 PM. Reason: speelimg mistook

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              • #8
                It all depends on how much space you've got. when I had an allotment, I treated old seeds as a bonus, sowed them "out of the way" and increased the glut if they grew. Now that I've downsized to a garden, its more important that what I do sow grows so I tend not to sow old seeds that don't keep (parsnips & carrots for example).

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                • #9
                  It's alway's worth a shot, you'll never know unless you give them a go.
                  Just don't use prime space, save that for new seeds that are guaranteed to germinate.
                  I did try 2004 bedford champion onions last month, 2 full packets of them, i think 1 germinated
                  sigpic

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                  • #10
                    Sometimes seeds can surprise you. I sowed two old packets of peppers seeds - not a single one germinated. I bought a new pack and sowed them, not a single one has germinated.

                    I sowed three or four packs of very, very old chilli seeds and every single one must've germinated cause now I got 120 odd plants (taking them to work as we speak).
                    https://nodigadventures.blogspot.com/

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