How long do seeds stay good?

[TNDemo]

I cleaned out a drawer last night and found some vegetable and flower seed packets that are years old. Will they germinate or is it hopeless?

[Kamika]

1. They can still work

Seeds stay good for years I think

[Wickerman]

2. one way to find out

:shrug:

[papau]

3. usually hopeless - but I always try and sometimes something comes up

but dormant seeds become inert matter quickly!

[cmd]

4. Wet a paper towel, sprinkle on a few seeds........

Put in a baggie and let sit for a week or two in a warm place. If seeds begin to sprout, they are still good.

[TNDemo]

6. Good idea.

I'll try that.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. That's the ticket

Germinate them indoors in good light until the seedlings are viable.

I had some FordeHook SwissChard seeds for two years...threw them in the ground and got Swisschard! I am in California, however.

[NightTrain]

5. As long as rock fans still love "Pushin' Too Hard," the Seeds will be good

:P

[ScrewyRabbit]

8. I'm pretty sure I've read about seeds from Egyptian tombs

being planted and sprouting.

That baggie idea is a great one...

[dweller]

9. if you want a percentage

try sprouting 10 seeds as suggested above...

i've kept seeds for several years with great success, one pack of basil seeds will be finished up this year in a 4th season.
Each year i've 'overplanted' thinking they would have diminished in vitality, each year i have too many plants.

dp