Expiration dates on old seed packages

**ladytoysdream** · 10-03-2009, 01:45 PM

I was at a garage sale this morning and picked up 22 old packages of seeds. The packages look good, so would guess they have been in dry storage.

I did check the dates before I bought them. The guy wanted $ 3 but I ended up with them all for $ 1. Dates are 1991, 1992, 1995. So most are over 14 yrs and older. If half of them germinate, that would be good. 4 of the packages are peas, 2 bush beans.
One I am not familiar with is a Scarlet runner bean, a edible ornamental. 2 packages of dwarf okra, and never have tried this veggie. Not sure what it tastes like. The rest are flowers, and herbs.

So what would be the oldest seeds that you have planted and what kind of results did you get ?

**Momof3girls** · 10-03-2009, 01:52 PM

I planted some 10 year old flower seeds and had a fairly good amount sprout.

**Grainlady** · 10-03-2009, 05:04 PM

You can test-sprout old seeds. Here's a link with all the instructions.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4772497_vege...ore-plant.html

**Contrary Housewife** · 10-03-2009, 09:14 PM

I find that 3 years is about the limit. After that germination is so poor as to be not worth the effort.

**frugalfranny** · 10-04-2009, 01:00 AM

Sounds like you were in MY SEED BOX!! I sure would give them a try.......now sure the direction that GL gave for ehow....but when you are going to plant them.....put 10 of them in a damp paper towel.....keep it warm and see how many sprout...that gives you the percentage.

I have had pretty good luck......and lots of time I don't even test them. I will put five or six in the hole and if they need to be thinned if too many sprouted......I do it then.

Hey.........for a buck............if you get ANY the purchase has paid for itself!! I would have bought them too!! If they are that old I don't think I would bother with starting them in the house though.......that is extra expense for pot, dirt, etc.

I used tomato seeds this year that were nine years old. But mine are kept in a dark dry place.........that is the key for the major part of it..........how they were stored.

**ladytoysdream** · 10-04-2009, 07:57 AM

Well for what they want for seed prices, I guess I am going to be taking more and more chances with older stock.
I think I will start the spring with fresh seeds and then start using these older seeds to fill in spots. Probably at the ends of rows that maybe I did not have enough to finish.
Or as a second crop when the first ones get harvested.
I only gave him the $ 1 for them as I did not want him to throw them out and not sell them to me. And it was a charity sale, for the local SPCA group.
I also did pick up some at the farm store recently that are this years and bought them for .15 each. I got 10 of them. Mostly sunflowers