New to growing your own tomatoes? This is the forum to learn the successful techniques used by seasoned tomato growers. Questions are welcome, too.
|
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
![]() |
#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2016
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 30
|
![]()
Who knows the oldest seed successfully sprouted? Ideally officially on record, but I'm curious about anecdotes, too. The stat I've usually heard is the oldest was about 50, a handful of 30+, and pretty decent germination with not too much difficulty from about 15 years.
What's the oldest seed you've personally ever germinated? What are your favorite tricks for waking up old seeds? Tea, MG, bleach, something else? |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 6a - NE Tennessee
Posts: 4,538
|
![]()
My best is 22 years. This year, I also got an ~15 year old (possibly Brandywine) to show up and It's in the main garden right now.
Sorry, but I didn't get the Guinness folks to verify them.
__________________
Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 | |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a
Posts: 21,169
|
![]() Quote:
A precursor to the various USDA stations was in Cheyenne Wyoming where they kept their tomato seeds in filing cabinets at ambient temps and humidity. When the new USDA station in Ames, IA opened, everything from Cheyenne was sent there and when checked for germination there were two varieties,not named, that were 50 years old. My own personal record was waking up seeds of September Dawn that were 22 years old. In many threads here I have posted what I do to either up % germination for a variety or more often,what to do if there are seeds with no germination, and the latter depends on seed age as well as how stored, etc.,as to what I do for treatments. Carolyn
__________________
Carolyn |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
|
![]()
My best is 13 years old (2003). They germinated just like the more recently saved seeds.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 404
|
![]()
I germinated a 1996 Alicante seed in 2013 and a 2000 Magnus seed in 2015. I only
planted one of each and both germinated in a normal period of time, producing healthy plants. I was a bit surprised. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 64
|
![]()
My best was 25 year old tomato seed. I didn't do anything special -- started 12 of the seeds and ONE of the 12 made it and grew out into a healthy plant. They were saved by my husband's uncle in 1990 and that one was successful for me in 2015. He'd stored the seeds in an old medicine bottle in his garage all those years.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Spain
Posts: 416
|
![]()
Spanish cuarentena was recovered from 1950's-60's seed found inside a gourd, forgotten in somebody's farm. Date is from memory, but was around 50 years old.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: MA
Posts: 4,966
|
![]()
A few years ago, Ace 55, seed from 1965, distributed when an Auburn U freezer brokedown. I still have a few seeds to try, again.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: AL
Posts: 1,993
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,013
|
![]() Quote:
![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
|
![]()
Gibberellic Acid is great for waking up old seed, at least from what I read.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 | |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a
Posts: 21,169
|
![]() Quote:
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...iberellic+acid Carolyn
__________________
Carolyn |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
|
![]()
ok, thanks. I tried to search earlier but it told me the word was too long.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|