longevity of seeds

[encore]

guick question here :I have seeds that I bought that are 4-5 years old, what problems would I face trying to grow these? hard to get them to germinate? if they do germinate will the plants have problems? just wondering because I read somewhere where they said not to try after a couple of years. never really explained why. thanks for input tom

[Worth1]

No problems at all.

All hog wash.
4 and 5 year old seeds are like new.

Worth

[ContainerTed]

Agree with Worth. This year several of the varieties I grew were from 8 year old seed. The 3 pound and 3 ounce Belmonte (we named it the "Belmonster") was from seed that was at least 6 years old.

Like Worth said. "Hog Wash". Must have been someone who is selling seeds and is totally unscrupulous in their methods.

[Barb_FL]

I got 2007 Solar Fire seeds from TV and they all germinated fine.

You could always soak them in water/Foliage Pro or Miracle Grow first and then sow.

---
BTW - Not tomatoes - but I found Ferry Morse Basil Seeds from 1991 and just threw them in the raised bed and they grew.

[JLJ_]

Originally Posted by encore

guick question here :I have seeds that I bought that are 4-5 years old, what problems would I face trying to grow these? hard to get them to germinate? if they do germinate will the plants have problems? just wondering because I read somewhere where they said not to try after a couple of years. never really explained why. thanks for input tom

Additional points:

1) Tomato (and apparently basil) seeds are relatively long lived, other types of seeds may have shorter viability periods.

2) Tomato seeds you've bought -- marked, perhaps 'packed for 2011' -- were not necessarily grown in 2010. Often they will have been, but even a reputable seller may have just done germination tests on older seeds to see that they should grow well in the 'packed for' year -- and with some sellers, they may just be older, unchecked seed that the seller thinks will probably grow.

3) Conditions to which the seeds have been subjected can vary viability a lot -- conditions at the seller's premises, transport conditions, and how you've had them stored. Just as an example, a couple years ago I got some seeds grown by A the previous year, who had also sent some of the same seeds to B. Both A and B sent seeds to me via USPS. Both were packaged similarly, sent at the same time, arrived here the same day, and were treated the same by me, but the seeds from B grew normally and none of the seeds from A would even germinate -- makes it pretty likely that something in the post office path from A to me at that particular time was damaging to seeds.

But most of the time, with just ordinary care, most tomato seeds will remain viable for quite a few years.

[encore]

so then as long as it germinates, it should be a good healthy plant so to speak? old seeds wouldn't cause plants to grow unhealthy ? any more than might happen naturally?

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by encore

so then as long as it germinates, it should be a good healthy plant so to speak? old seeds wouldn't cause plants to grow unhealthy ? any more than might happen naturally?

Correct.

Worth

[AlittleSalt]

Alston's Everlasting today - Seeds saved in 2003

[encore]

looking good!

[ilex]

Look at Cuarentena's history. Thought extinct until seed from 1950's was found inside a gourd. All known tricks used and a few germinated.

[silverseed]

I grew some Long Scarlet Cincinnati radishes from 15 year old seed and they germinated fine and the seed wasn't kept in a freezer just a mason jar. I know it isn't tomato seed but it just goes to show that seeds can be good for longer that one might think.

[habitat_gardener]

I went to a garden talk on onions yesterday. If you look up the longevity of onion seed, usually it says onion seed has the lowest longevity -- about 1 year. Well, this backyard gardener said she stores her onion seed in ziplock plastic bags in a refrigerator or freezer, and they are still viable after 10 years!! Of course, she also said that if she knows the seeds are older, she might double-sow (anticipating lower germination). She also said she has never bought new seed for leeks -- still using her original packet of seed!

[Worth1]

I went to a couple of Garden Talks some time ago.
They were so contrary to what I do and what most all of us do here and believe I was biting my tongue and had to leave.
I wanted to speak up so bad and put the guy on the spot.

Worth

[Hellmanns]

I have read that tomato seed has a half-life of 100 years. I believe that from my experiences with hand me down varieties over the years. I sowed seed this year from a variety I saved seed from in '89, out of 60 seed sown 58 germinated.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Hellmanns

I have read that tomato seed has a half-life of 100 years. I believe that from my experiences with hand me down varieties over the years. I sowed seed this year from a variety I saved seed from in '89, out of 60 seed sown 58 germinated.

Sorry but there is no 1/2 life for tomato seed.

The oldest tomato seeds that were ever germinated and documented, which is important, were 50 years old and that happened when the precursor to the USDA station in Ames, IA opened and the Cheyenne, WY place had to send all their seeds to Ames, IA where germination testing was done.

And the seeds in Cheyenne were stored in regular filing cabinets at ambient temps. Nothing special,

The oldest tomato seed I ever was able to wake up were seeds of September Dawn which were 22 yo, but then I had to use special methods to wake up seed even younger than that since seeds of heart varieties, for instance, do not have the same longevity as non hearts do.

Hope that helps,

Carolyn