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Sun, Mar 29, 09 at 19:18
| i bought a couple of thousands seeds through seedsavers.org. i live in booklyn - i have no idea what to do with all these seeds although it didn't seem like much when i ordered them.
will they keep for next year? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Hi, Yes, you can keep them for next year. Most seeds will keep for a few years or even longer. Only a few have a short life, the onion family and corn are two that I can think of that you might have got seeds of. Store them in a cool dark dry spot in your home. Remy |
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- Posted by slo_garden 8b/9 CA Coast (My Page) on Wed, Apr 8, 09 at 12:06
| Lettuce seed is the only one that I've had a problem getting to germinate after a year. (It is supposed to last several years. Go figure.) Everything else has been fine. |
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| I saw a special on one of the sciencey tv networks in which people were able to grow varieties that had been extinct for half a century, because someone stored some seeds properly. Basically, they were kept in a dark, dry place. Of course, it's probably not the case for ALL seeds, but I know I've grown tomatoes, lettuce and acorn squash from old seeds before. (I just planted some acorn squash seeds that I harvested in 2004, what remains from what I used up last year, and I expect they should be fine). I stored my old seeds in an air-tight container. I don't know if this is even necessary, but it didn't seem to hurt them. |
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- Posted by antioch_frank (My Page) on Tue, Apr 21, 09 at 23:55
| Greetings, I have a bunch of seeds packages that range from 6 to 12 years old. They have been stored in a variety of places. Please advise. Best… Frank |
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| Frank, Please start a new thread and post what types of seeds you have. Thank you, Remy |
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- Posted by gardener_mary 6 MA (My Page) on Fri, Apr 24, 09 at 17:32
| Its important to keep them in a cool, dark, dry place. I keep mine in a container in the refrigerator. The germination rate will go down some each year, faster on somethings than others. Onion are said to only be able to be kept for 1 yr, I had a 5 yr old package with about 60 seed so I planted them (just to see) not thinking I would really get anything from them. 14 seeds germinated, thats almost 25%. So I would not count on most germinating when they start getting old, but I would not just discount them. I've also planted 3 15 yr old tomato seeds and had 2 of them germinate. If your using older seed its a little more of a gamble but like the lottery you never know if you don't try it. If more grow than you can use, you can always share. Good gardening, Mary |
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