Sprouting older seeds - Page 2

Starlight · March 30, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonnaMarieNJ

I have tomato seeds from 2005 which I would like to plant this week. Following the instructions above, I placed them in warm water with a pinch of MG. They sunk immediately. How long should I let them soak? Or should I not soak them, if they sink? I have about 30 seeds and am only soaking 3, just in case I'm doing it wrong.

Donna... I could be wrong, and maybe somebody else will step in, but if they sank to the bottom, I would get them out of the water and planted before they get water logged and rot.

Did you try sowing a few to see if they even needed any kind of treatment? I just sprout a bunch of 2007 and 2009 seed right along some 2013 and the older seeds came up faster than the newer seeds without any treatment.

DonnaMarieNJ · March 30, 2015

No, not yet. I was just given a few varieties from someone who never grew them. They are already planted. Hopefully, they will sprout and I can keep new seed.

Thanks.

**carolyn137** · March 30, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starlight

Donna... I could be wrong, and maybe somebody else will step in, but if they sank to the bottom, I would get them out of the water and planted before they get water logged and rot.

Did you try sowing a few to see if they even needed any kind of treatment? I just sprout a bunch of 2077 and 2009 seed right along some 2013 and the older seeds came up faster than the newer seeds without any treatment.

Donna M. I don't know if you are referring to what I normally do with older seeds, but if you are, and these would be my own saved seeds. Up to 5 yo I would sow normally, from about 5 to 10 years I would double sow if I had enough seeds, and you do, only above about 10 years would I treat the seeds.

And I'll also share with you that I never would treat just 3 seeds if I had as many as you have.

Starlight, congrats on germinating those 2077 seeds, far better than my getting up 22 yo seeds of September Dawn.

Carolyn

Starlight · March 30, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolyn137

Starlight, congrats on germinating those 2077 seeds, far better than my getting up 22 yo seeds of September Dawn.

Carolyn

Thanks, I corrected the year. Would be nice if we was around in that year. Makes you wonder what the future of tomatoes and tomato growers will be like.

Star who thinks September Dawn is a beautiful name for a tomato.

March 30, 2015	#17
DonnaMarieNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northeast New Jersey Posts: 731	No, not yet. I was just given a few varieties from someone who never grew them. They are already planted. Hopefully, they will sprout and I can keep new seed. Thanks. __________________ DonnaMarieNJ I pay the mortgage, but my cats own the house!