Old seed

[Swampster]

I found some old green been seed I bought from the co-op in 2014, opened, and stored in the refrigerator. What do you think the germination rate will look like? Something approaching 0%? I planted four for each support pole.

 

[jejeffrries71]

I would dig a few up in about four days. Maybe by then you'll have some idea of what they are doing. I wouldn't lose a week+ of growing time waiting on them. Or maybe just buy some new seed today and get them in the ground.

 

[ADR]

In my experience corn seed can have reasonable germination rates after a couple years but bean germination rates drop dramatically

 

[Swampster]

In my experience corn seed can have reasonable germination rates after a couple years but bean germination rates drop dramatically

Bummer!

 

[Forvols]

I have some turkey craw green beans that are 15yrs old, been stored in the freezer in a ziploc freezer bag. I planted 3 rows last year had 80% germination (good mess of green beans). put 10 on a dampened paper towel at room temp, and keep it damp see how many germinate.

 

[DoubleRidge]

Hard to say for sure but Im guessing you will get some germination...agree with Forvols...Try the damp papertowl test mentioned.

 

[backyardtndeer]

I think they may surprise you.

 

[WTM]

i keep mine in freezer and cant tell the difference in old seed and recently bought seed. i have a bulk bag of contenders that i only plant a row or two of a year and theyre at least 10 years old.

 

[Huntaholic]

Ive got some speckled butterbean seeds that I planted a few of just this week. These seeds have been in my family for 4 generations so I hope I can at least get some of my seed stock back.
Oh, I forgot to mention, my Mom died in 1996 and she didnt plant a garden the last few years of her life so these seeds have been in the freezer for over 30 years! Wish me luck!

 

[TnBob]

My dad was a big gardener. He had bean seeds from a lady called granny Bartlett. The seeds had been in her family since they settled in Putnam county. Dad passed away in 2004 so I helped mom with her garden until she passed away in 2010. I still have a bag of the seeds that I helped mom shell out in 2008. I planted a handful about a week ago after 17 years in the refrigerator.

 

[DaveB]

I wish you the best. If you are successful can you list out how the seeds were preserved?

 

[farmin68]

I found some old green been seed I bought from the co-op in 2014, opened, and stored in the refrigerator. What do you think the germination rate will look like? Something approaching 0%? I planted four for each support pole.

A quick search on storing garden seed in the fridge says 10 years is close to the limit.
If they are still viable, they may not have enough stored energy to give them the jump start that fresher seed would provide after germination. I'm thinking I would go with new seed.

 

[MR Yote]

I have some turkey craw green beans that are 15yrs old, been stored in the freezer in a ziploc freezer bag. I planted 3 rows last year had 80% germination (good mess of green beans). put 10 on a dampened paper towel at room temp, and keep it damp see how many germinate.

YES, THIS! My thoughts exactly

 

[WTM]

kept in freezer i kept count of seeds planted around 100% germination in both.

 

[DaveB]

Very cool. Some seeds are good. I not understand the process but I can see how refrigerating would be a good thing.

Will give it a go as I finish up plantings.

I do know the damp paper towel trick is very good at increasing germination of old seeds. There are some seeds that HAVE to be soaked in that manner at least overnight.

 

[TNLynn]

I started putting all my seeds in the freezer years ago. Have seeds up to 8 years old. Since I started doig this my germination rate is near 100%. Even okra, which I've always had spotty results.

 

[DoubleRidge]

I started putting all my seeds in the freezer years ago. Have seeds up to 8 years old. Since I started doig this my germination rate is near 100%. Even okra, which I've always had spotty results.

I store our saved seed and leftover store bought seed in the freezer with good results.

 

[chris1976]

When you clear land that has been grown up in woods for decades and all new plants start growing up how old do you think those seeds have been waiting to sprout? Exactly.

 

[DoubleRidge]

When you clear land that has been grown up in woods for decades and all new plants start growing up how old do you think those seeds have been waiting to sprout? Exactly.

I've always found this topic fascinating...the seed bank is very interesting.

 

[tntacomaguy]

.

 

[Huntaholic]

Update time: the butterbeans I planted are doing great so far. I only planted 2 seeds in each of six hills. In 5 of the 6 hills at least one seed sprouted and some had both seeds sprout. I replanted the hill that failed and it sprouted both seeds the 2nd time around. I will try to take a pic of some of the pods and post them tomorrow.

 

[Huntaholic]