How to Plant Old Seeds
How to plant old seeds is determined by how viable the seeds are. The type of seed, age and storage conditions determine the viability of old seeds. Old seeds produce the same quality flowers and vegetables as those grown from fresh seeds if they were properly stored. It is necessary to determine how many of the stored seeds in a particular lot are viable. Adjust the amount of seed planted in order to compensate for the percentage of seeds that are not viable. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Determine the viability of old seeds by placing 10 seeds on top of a damp paper towel. Place the towel and seeds into a zip-top bag and seal the bag.
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Label the bag with the date and seed type.
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Place the zip-top bag in a room where the temperature remains constant until the seeds begin to sprout, usually seven to 10 days. Parsley, carrot and celery seeds may require a longer time to sprout.
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Conclude how viable the seeds are by counting the number of seeds that sprout. If eight to 10 seeds from the bag sprout, the seeds are viable enough to plant according to the seed coverage directions on the package. If six or seven seeds sprout, sow 25 percent more seeds than indicated on the package directions. If five seeds or less sprout, discard the seeds.
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Soak the seeds in water for 24 hours before you plant them according to package directions.
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Tips & Warnings
Plant larger seeds that contain more endosperm deeper in the ground to nourish them while they grow toward the surface.
Store seeds in the produce drawer of a refrigerator for good results.
Corn, onions and leeks, parsley, parsnips and pepper seeds can be stored for one to two years.
Asparagus, beans and peas, beets, cabbages, carrots, eggplant, tomatoes and squash and pumpkin seeds can be stored for three to four years.
Cucumbers, lettuce, melons and spinach seeds can be stored for five to six years.
References
- Photo Credit sunflower seeds image by Yury Shirokov from Fotolia.com
