December 12, 2020
Source: Joe Gardener
Photo Source: Unsplash, Imso Gabriel
There is an easy way to tell if the seeds inside an old seed pack are still good — before going through the time and trouble of planting the seeds in the garden to find out. Seed packets typically state the planting year that the seeds were packaged for as well as the germination rate. As years go by and the seeds age, the germination rate declines, faster or slower depending on the variety of seeds and how the seeds were stored.
Seeds that you received from a friend or from a seed swap may have no date at all and were likely never tested for their germination rate. The good news is, you can test seeds yourself, and it’s not hard at all. Seed packets typically state the planting year that the seeds were packaged for, but seeds that you received from a friend or from a seed swap may not have that helpful information. The Germination Test The point of the germination test is to determine if you need to plant a few extra seeds to get as many plants as you want, or if you should not bother planting those old seeds at all.
First, take a paper towel and moisten it with a spray bottle. Place 10 of the seeds to be tested onto the paper towel, then carefully fold the wet paper towel over the seeds. Place the paper towel and seeds in a plastic bag, seal it, and label the bag with the variety and the date. The rate of germination for a pack of seeds can be estimated by testing 10 individual seeds. Place the plastic bag in a warm environment — like the top of the refrigerator — and after a few days, begin to check the seeds daily. Depending on the variety you are testing, the viable seeds could sprout in just a few days. Other varieties may take up to several weeks.
If nothing happens after waiting the appropriate length of time, you know the seeds are no good. A low number of sprouts will mean you need to plant more thickly, and a high number of sprouts means you can plant at the regular seed density.
Testing with exactly 10 seeds makes the math really easy: If nine out of 10 seeds sprout, the germination rate is 90 percent. Viable seeds will sprout in the paper towel. You can do the germination test at any time, but if your tested seeds have sprouted at their planting time, you can move them into your garden.
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