[nw_arizona_granny]

Thank you for joining us on this thread.

Seed ages, vary and the truth is most are wrong.

Tomatoes are almost forever.

Greens and delicate seeds, will loose about 5% per year, so at ten years old, half will germinate.

Every book says you must buy fresh onion seed every year.

But I got at least 50 % out of 11 year old onion seeds.

Mustard seeds are forever.

It is the conditions that determine their life.

Don’t throw them out, just plant a little thicker in the row or pot.

I am prone to buy a super packet and then use it several years, so try, most will give you all you needed.

If it were commercial, and you had to count the seeds, there might be a different opinion, as there is often no chance to replant and still meet the holiday.

[My hearts in London - Everett]

Thanks so much, granny! I was hoping I hadn’t wasted my money by buying them and not being able to use them until two or three years later! :~(

[Free Vulcan]

The onion seeds amaze me, that is excellent germination and gives me hope some of my old seed will germinate. Does the older seed seem less vigorous to you? I had some Giant Musselburgh leek seed that was a few years old and they seem weaker than my leeks I bought seed for this year.

I generally freeze my seeds. It puts them into suspended animation and they last forever. I had some good germination on some 6-8 year old Habanero peppers I planted. Alot of my older seed did well.

I do alot of seed saving, it sure cuts down on seed costs. I usually have tons of extra seed which either goes to feed the birds, use as cover crops, or sprouting in the winter time for extra nutrition. As you said, nothing is wasted.

Another book I recommend: Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth. Tells you how to save about every kind of vegetable seed you can think of.