I know I’m not the only gardener who can’t bear to part with her unused seeds. Sometimes, we buy packets and don’t end up using everything inside. Getting rid of them just feels wrong, even if the packet is a few years past its expiration date. As I prepare to start my seeds for the upcoming growing season, I’m discovering an unhealthy amount of old seeds in my collection. Are these seeds still any good? What’s a girl with attachment issues to do?
Your easiest option is to just plant the seeds and see if they sprout. But as seeds age, their germination rates drop. They also may not pop if they weren’t stored properly, and some seed varieties have an actual shelf life and won’t do well beyond that timeframe.
Why take the wait-and-see approach when you can find out if you’ve still got viable seeds within the next week? In her book Garden Alchemy, Stephanie Rose of Garden Therapy recommends an easy seed germination test to find out if you’ve still got the goods.
Do this test if you have seeds that are more than a few years old or that you’ve collected yourself. You may save yourself time, effort, and disappointment if the seeds don’t sprout. Start this process at least a week before the official seed starting date.
You will need:
If all of the seeds, or more than 85%, sprout, you won’t have any issues and can depend on them for this growing season. If your numbers are low, either plant more seeds to increase your chances of success or rip that band-aid off and say goodbye for good. It’s over, and you have to accept that.
This article originally appeared in Garden Culture Magazine UK31 & US29. Our food security begins and ends with seeds. Heirloom and organic seeds, in particular,
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