OOOLLLLDDDD SEEDS

**jlxian** · 03-29-2005, 12:02 PM

Over the weekend, I decided to go through my collection of seeds and decide what else to start inside and what to keep out to plant later on in the garden. I found some interesting very old seeds, some from 1985.

When my father passed away, my mother sold their house and we kids helped clean out by taking the things we wanted. Among the things I took was my dad's collection of garden seed, lots of which were saved from his own plants. He also had some seed that my aunt had given to him and some my brother (a botanist) had given to him. The seed my aunt had given him was for "Hearts of Gold" melon seed. I am assuming this is cantelope as the seed look a lot like cantelope seed. My brother gave him some exotic melon seed for an Afghanistan melon and also an exotic cucumber of some sort. And there was a small packet of "mini pumpkin" seed labeled in an unknown handwriting -- maybe a friend.

Just for a lark, I decided to try germinating some of these old seeds. I really really hope they work as it will be so neat to grow some of the things my father, brother and aunt all grew in their gardens. I know it is a long shot!

**Kimberlina** · 03-29-2005, 01:19 PM

Good luck- maybe you can get one or two to start. When I am trying to get old seeds to start, I do the coffee filter thing with at least a few. The filter is better than paper towels because it is less pourous so the seedlings don't grow into the filter and then get damaged when you try to remove them.

Anyway, I look forward to hearing how your experiment goes.

**jlxian** · 03-29-2005, 01:52 PM

Well, Kimberly, I used the paper towels -- guess I had better make a new start with coffee filters. I put the seeds into the paper towels, wet them, and then into sandwich bags..... do you put the coffee filters into a plastic bag too?

**Kimberlina** · 03-29-2005, 02:23 PM

I think paper towels will work fine, but I like coffee filters because the new little seedligs won't grow into them as readily as they do with paper towels. But, yes, I do put them into plastic bags or something similar. (For the recent peppers, I put several filters into a small, clear plastic container with a lid.) No matter which you use, you should try to keep them vertical. When the seeds start to grow toward the light (up, presumably

) you could run into a problem with them trying to burrow into the paper towels to get to the light, and when you try to extract them they could become damaged.

Are you using a fungicide at all? I have had good luck with peroxide diluted to 5%.

**forestdale** · 03-29-2005, 02:54 PM

Good luck, Jean. I really hope some come up for you. What a great thing to have your own family heritage plants growing in your garden.

Regarding the paper towels/coffee filters. When the seeds have germinated and are ready to transplant into a pot, just cut around the outside of the roots and bury the seedling with paper attached. The paper/filter will rot away in the soil.

**Kimberlina** · 03-29-2005, 03:05 PM

I knew you would have some better insight into this than me, Rhonda!

**jlxian** · 03-29-2005, 05:35 PM

Great! I hadn't even considered planting the ones I'm trying to germinate.....I figured I would have to throw them out and start with a peat pellet and a new seed or something like that.

THANKS Rhonda and Kimberly!

Yes, I hope something germinates, too. I'm not holding my breath, but it would be very cool.....

**Kimberlina** · 03-30-2005, 06:20 PM

Sending positive germination vibes your way....

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

**jlxian** · 04-01-2005, 11:05 AM

Just an update -- nothing has sprouted yet. Maybe I'm too hopeful.

**jlxian** · 04-07-2005, 10:22 AM

Update -- so far no activity in trying to sprout my old seeds. I have some in peat pellets and some in wet paper towels. Maybe I should have had more bottom heat? Maybe I should go ahead and try in the garden? Maybe I should soak the seeds first?

As you can tell, I do not want to give up easily on this project.