Seed catalogs continue to fill mailboxes and gardeners everywhere are checking seed packets left over from last year to see what they need to order this year. But how can you be sure that the seeds from last year or even two years ago will still germinate?
A simple test you can do now will check seed viability, or germination potential. Moisten a paper towel with warm water. Scatter ten seeds on half of it. Fold the towel in half to cover the seeds and place the towel in a plastic bag. Store it in a warm place, such as the top of the refrigerator for about ten days.
Count the number of seeds that have sprouted after ten days. If less than six seeds have germinated, it’s best to order new seeds. If six or more have sprouted, plant them as usual in spring. If just three or four seeds sprouted, you can try planting them at twice the recommended density. For example, if the packet says to space the seeds an inch apart, place them in the ground a half inch apart and hope the right ones sprout. If the wrong ones do, a little thinning or transplanting will take care of the problem.
After the test, the sprouted seeds don’t have to be discarded. Gently plant them in individual containers using a fine, loose potting soil mix. Place them in a bright warm spot and keep them watered until time to plant outdoors in spring. If they get too big before they’re ready to go outdoors, transfer them to a larger container. You may even decide to keep them as a container plant until harvest time.
There are charts listing how many years the different kinds of seeds are viable. The range is amazing – some seeds are good for only one year while others can remain dormant for thousands of years and still germinate when planted.
While you probably can’t grow the pea seeds you’ve saved for twenty years, storage factors can affect the length of time a seed will remain viable. Seeds remain fresh longer when stored in cool, dry conditions. Suggested storage containers are zip-loc bags, glass jars, or vellum envelopes. If there is space, keep them in the refrigerator. Otherwise, any cool room will do. Avoid the basement, bathroom and kitchen because of dampness.
When it comes time to plant seed outdoors there are a few tricks that encourage germination. Soak large seeds such as peas, beans, okra and nasturtiums overnight in lukewarm water before planting. This will soften the seed coat.
Some seeds, like morning glory, sweet pea and okra, have very hard seed coats that inhibit water absorption. To allow the seed to absorb water more readily, nick the seed coat with a sharp knife, being careful not to damage the embryo inside the seed. An alternative is to rub the seeds between two pieces of sandpaper. For large quantities of seed, slip a piece of coarse sandpaper inside a jar, add the seeds, screw on the lid and shake the jar until the seed coats wear down.
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