How to Do a Germination Test on Old Seeds

If you have a packet or two of seeds lying around from the past few gardening seasons, don't dump them in the trash without first checking to see if the seeds are still good. Seeds often stay viable long past the expiration date stamped on the seed packet, though viability depends on the type of seed and how it was stored. To find out if your seeds are worth planting, all you need to do is a simple germination test. Here is how.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towel
• Sealable plastic bag

Instructions

1. For each packet of seed, you will need one paper towel and one sealable plastic bag. To start, moisten the paper towel and then fold it in half to form a double layer.

2. Place 10 seeds (from the same packet) in a line on one half of the towel. Then, fold the other half of the damp paper towel over the line of seeds.

3. Carefully slide the towel into the plastic bag and seal the bag 3/4 of the way.

4. Check on the towel daily. Keep it evenly moist. After a week to 10 days has past, pull the towel out of the bag, unfold it and count how many seeds germinated. If all of the seeds germinated (10 out of 10), then you have a perfect germination rate. If only nine seeds germinated then you have a germination rate of 90 percent, and so on.

5. If the germination rate falls between 60 to 100 percent go ahead and plant the seed. Just sow a little heavier than normal to make up for the seeds' reduced viability. If less than 60 percent of the seed germinated, take a trip to the nursery and buy a fresh pack of seeds.

6. After you complete the germination test, you can plant any seeds that sprouted. Just be sure to handle them carefully so you do not break their tender, new roots.

Resources

• DigginFood