15 year old seed - Page 2

slugworth · February 13, 2017

Seeds are supposed to bubble when put in h202,these didn't.
The seeds look starchy,like looking at uncooked spaghetti;no guts.
h202 is standard 3% which I never had problems with before.I used to soak newer seeds all the time before planting.

Sun City Linda · February 13, 2017

I got a couple of 15 year +/- commercial tomato seed up this year. Added a drop of liquid houseplant fert to the soak. Seems to me they took some time to come up but a few of each germinated.

brownrexx · February 13, 2017

I am not a seed sprouting expert but I think that moisture and warmth are what most tomato type seeds are seeking. Other seeds with tougher seed coats may need additional help.

The seed coat is a barrier against dehydration of the embryo inside. Once the embryo inside becomes dehydrated it is dead but until that point, if you can rehydrate the seed coat to the point that it allows the moisture to penetrate to the inside then the embryo will most likely grow.

I have not tried to grow really old seeds. I usually only keep my seeds for 4-5 years but if seeds are stored in an environment that is not too hot and dry then I don't see why growing older ones would be a problem.

**carolyn137** · February 13, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sun City Linda

I got a couple of 15 year +/- commercial tomato seed up this year. Added a drop of liquid houseplant fert to the soak. Seems to me they took some time to come up but a few of each germinated.

Linda, that's close to what I do and I just did a search and found the method that I use, please see post #11 and the importance of having high nitrate really is that important as I noted below .

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...e+seeds+Peters

Carolyn

**carolyn137** · February 13, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolyn137

Linda, that's close to what I do and I just did a search and found the method that I use, please see post #11 and the importance of having high nitrate really is that important as I noted below .

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...e+seeds+Peters

Carolyn

Just adding info on the importance of high nitrate on seed germination of older seeds re breaking seed dormancy.

https://www.google.com/search?q=nitr..._AUIBygA&dpr=1

Carolyn

Sun City Linda · February 13, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolyn137

Just adding info on the importance of high nitrate on seed germination of older seeds re breaking seed dormancy.

https://www.google.com/search?q=nitr..._AUIBygA&dpr=1

Carolyn

Yes I was pretty sure I got that tip from you and it seems to work well!

KarenO · February 13, 2017

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...3581757&type=3

If anyone is interested to see how my project goes, I will post in this album as they grow. I placed the germinated seeds into potting mix at 4 days yesterday. 4 days to germinate fresh seeds is pretty good. 4 days for 15 year old seed might mean there is something to my method I think
I will save seeds again and share them. It's a great and unknown tomato the story of which can be found here in a thread called "Big Mystery"

KarenO

Labradors2 · February 13, 2017

Sounds great Karen!

I should try my hand at waking up some old Moneymaker seeds (from Woolworths) which were 19 years old the last time I looked at them {LOL}

Linda

KarenO · February 13, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labradors2

Sounds great Karen!

I should try my hand at waking up some old Moneymaker seeds (from Woolworths) which were 19 years old the last time I looked at them {LOL}

Linda

nothing to lose. try other methods too if you can get some specifics

Specifically What I used was 10 % food grade hydrogen peroxide (purchased and used for sprouts) diluted 10-1 with filtered water for a final concentration of one percent. Soaked a paper towel in it wrung it out to still very moist, placed the seeds on it placed that in a ziplock and set it in a dish (not directly) on my heat mat.
3 days later 3 out of 4 seeds showing a radicle. those 3 potted up in moist seed starting mix. will see how they do. Germination is only the first step. They are not growing yet.

slugworth · February 13, 2017

I diluted the h2o2 mix with water and added a touch of miracle grow.
I also added an air pump from an aquarium as a bubbler.
Liquid temp is 75F degrees.

**carolyn137** · February 13, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labradors2

Sounds great Karen!

I should try my hand at waking up some old Moneymaker seeds (from Woolworths) which were 19 years old the last time I looked at them {LOL}

Linda

Moneymaker was that good a variety that you'd want to try and wake up seeds?

http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/M...b=General_Info

It sure wasn't for me. I used to buy seeds from two seed firms in England,Thomas Etty and Suttons, and grew quite a few English ones, and I don't know exactly how I can explain the taste, but, well, it wasn't good for me at all.

Carolyn

Jimbotomateo · February 14, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarenO

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...3581757&type=3

If anyone is interested to see how my project goes, I will post in this album as they grow. I placed the germinated seeds into potting mix at 4 days yesterday. 4 days to germinate fresh seeds is pretty good. 4 days for 15 year old seed might mean there is something to my method I think
I will save seeds again and share them. It's a great and unknown tomato the story of which can be found here in a thread called "Big Mystery"

KarenO

That's really cool KarenO. I hope you'll keep us informed of your progress on this thread too.

. I'm interested!

. Jimbo

Labradors2 · February 14, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolyn137

Moneymaker was that good a variety that you'd want to try and wake up seeds?

http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/M...b=General_Info

It sure wasn't for me. I used to buy seeds from two seed firms in England,Thomas Etty and Suttons, and grew quite a few English ones, and I don't know exactly how I can explain the taste, but, well, it wasn't good for me at all.

Carolyn

Ha ha Carolyn! You are quite right that they probably are not worth waking up!

For me, it's the memories. My mother always grew them from plants that she bought from Woolworths. When I moved to Canada, she would send me seeds (Suttons) from Woolies. I didn't even know about OP seeds in those days!

One day, I had tasted tomatoes from some other varieties that I was growing, and I realized that Moneymaker didn't really taste all that great!!!!!

Anyway, it would be a fun experiment to revive my 20+ y.o. Moneymaker seeds - unless some of them actually make it {LOL}.

Linda

KarenO · February 16, 2017

And one is up so far.

KarenO

Spartanburg123 · February 19, 2017

Nice!!!!

February 13, 2017	#16
slugworth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: connecticut,usa Posts: 1,152	Seeds are supposed to bubble when put in h202,these didn't. The seeds look starchy,like looking at uncooked spaghetti;no guts. h202 is standard 3% which I never had problems with before.I used to soak newer seeds all the time before planting.

February 13, 2017	#17
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	I got a couple of 15 year +/- commercial tomato seed up this year. Added a drop of liquid houseplant fert to the soak. Seems to me they took some time to come up but a few of each germinated.

February 13, 2017	#18
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	I am not a seed sprouting expert but I think that moisture and warmth are what most tomato type seeds are seeking. Other seeds with tougher seed coats may need additional help. The seed coat is a barrier against dehydration of the embryo inside. Once the embryo inside becomes dehydrated it is dead but until that point, if you can rehydrate the seed coat to the point that it allows the moisture to penetrate to the inside then the embryo will most likely grow. I have not tried to grow really old seeds. I usually only keep my seeds for 4-5 years but if seeds are stored in an environment that is not too hot and dry then I don't see why growing older ones would be a problem.

February 13, 2017	#22
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,932	https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...3581757&type=3 If anyone is interested to see how my project goes, I will post in this album as they grow. I placed the germinated seeds into potting mix at 4 days yesterday. 4 days to germinate fresh seeds is pretty good. 4 days for 15 year old seed might mean there is something to my method I think I will save seeds again and share them. It's a great and unknown tomato the story of which can be found here in a thread called "Big Mystery" KarenO

February 13, 2017	#23
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,898	Sounds great Karen! I should try my hand at waking up some old Moneymaker seeds (from Woolworths) which were 19 years old the last time I looked at them {LOL} Linda

February 19, 2017	#30
Spartanburg123 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Spartanburg, SC Posts: 1,262	Nice!!!!