Table of Contents
When handled this way and given cool, dry storage conditions, tomato seeds usually stay viable for 4 to 6 years, and sometimes longer.
Will 10 year old seeds germinate?
The answer is, yes, seeds will eventually go bad and no longer germinate, but it can take quite a long time. There is a good chance that those old seed packets will have a high percentage of seeds that will germinate just fine. And even a group of very old seeds may have 10 or 20 percent that still sprouts.
How can you tell if tomato seeds are bad?
It usually takes about a week for tomato seeds to dry out, but a good rule of thumb is seeds that are easy to bend are still wet. Dried seeds are very hard to bend or break.
Can you use out of date tomato seeds?
Tomato seeds are especially good to save long term, as they really do last for years. I’m still getting 100% germination from some seeds I scraped out of a Marks & Spencer’s tomato onto a piece of kitchen roll in 2002.
How can you tell if tomato seeds are good?
One method to check for seed viability is the water test. Take the seeds and place them in a container of water. Let the seeds sit for 15 minutes. If the seeds sink, they are still viable; if they float, discard, because they probably will not sprout.
Will old tomato seeds germinate?
Yes! If tomato seeds are appropriately fermented, dried, and stored, they can last up to 10 years with a germination rate of 50%. If used within 4-7 years, the germination rate will be even better. Heirloom tomato pioneer Carolyn Male has re-awakened 22-year-old tomato seeds.
How long do packets of seeds last?
Seeds in good condition and stored properly will last at least one year and, depending on the plant, may last two to five years.
How do you germinate a 50 year old seed?
5 Tips For Germinating Old Seeds Dilute 10ml (roughly one tsp) of Fulvic acid per litre (33 oz) of water. Scuff the outer shell of the seed with some sand paper. Use a lightly carbonated water. Use a light enzyme or seed booster, Plagron Nutrients has a very good one.
How do you revive old seeds?
Soaking the seeds in a 1 or 2% hydrogen peroxide solution for a few minutes cleans effectively while also providing slight chemical scarification to the seed coat, which has likely hardened over time.
Can you save seeds from store bought tomatoes?
Don’t bother with saving seeds from store bought tomatoes. Hybrids won’t grow true to the original plant. Instead, save seeds from heirloom or open pollinated varieties.
Are tomatoes bad if seeds are green?
As the seeds mature, the outer layer hardens to protect the interior embryo. So, a green interior may be green seeds. In other words, the tomato may not be ripe yet. This is the simplest explanation when a tomato is red but green inside; the tomato isn’t ripe inside.
Do tomato seeds need to be dried before planting?
Tomato seeds retain highest germination rates when dried to between 6 – 9% moisture content. However, fresh tomato seeds can be dried on paper towels for 2-3 days before planting. So, while you don’t need to dry tomato seeds for months before you can plant them, there are a few tips & tricks for how to do it.
How do you know if a seed is viable?
Water test: Take your seeds and put them in a container of water. Let them sit for about 15 minutes. Then if the seeds sink, they are still viable; if they float, they most likely will not sprout.
Can you use old seed packets?
The simple answer is planting old seeds is possible and okay. The flowers or fruit that come from out-of-date seeds will be of the same quality as if they were grown from fresh seeds. Using seeds from old vegetable seed packets will produce vegetables that are just as nutritious as those from current season seeds.
Are expired seeds still good?
Yes. Plants grown from expired seed packets will grow to produce healthy and fruitful harvests, just as their younger counterparts. Depending upon the type of seeds, environmental conditions, and the manner in which the seeds have been stored, the germination rate of older seed packets may be greatly impacted.
What is the longest known time that a seed has remained viable?
A date palm seed some 2000 years old – preserved by nothing more than storage in hot and dry conditions – has germinated, making it the oldest seed in the world to do so. The ancient seed was found along with several others in the 1960s in the Masada fortress on the edge of the Dead Sea in Israel.
How long do flower seeds last in packets?
Here are some general guidelines. Your seeds’ shelf life depends on how carefully you’ve stored your seeds. Most perennial flowers are good for about 5 years, and most annual flower seeds will last up to 3 years. Pro tip: Save time by writing the expected expiration date on your seed packets.
How do you test seeds for germination?
Wet the paper, put it in the container, spread the seeds out on top, close the container, and keep it in a warm place. Check it regularly, removing and counting germinated seeds, and keeping the towel moist, until you conclude that all the viable seeds have germinated.
