There are many things that backyard gardeners can do over the winter months to prepare themselves for the growing season ahead, one of them being cleaning out seed storage areas. It's important to check for seed viability at this time of the year, because although we are not quite ready to plant our seeds yet, we do need to know if we can use the seeds we have or if we will need to order more. This is the time of year when seed catalogs come out; a good reminder to check our stock. In general, most vegetable and flower seeds will last around a year, though this shelf life can be extended to as much as 10 years if proper procedures are followed. The three most important factors in storing seeds are moisture, temperature, and light. Seeds like to hang out in a purgatory that is cool, dry, and dark. This cuts down the chances that seeds will mold, sprout, or otherwise go bad. Seeds also will fade in germination rates with time; if a packet of seeds was purchased a few years ago and went unused, it's possible that the seeds inside are now out of the window of viability.
This seed viability test takes between 7 and 10 days to complete, and begins with a moist paper towel, laid flat. Place a row of 10 seeds on the paper towel along one edge, and roll up loosely, making sure the seeds stay in place. Next, place the damp paper towel in a sealable plastic bag or other container (like a clear Tupperware) and put it in a spot that receives bright, indirect light and is warm. Many home gardeners choose the top of their refrigerator for this purpose, as it stays around 70 degrees. Over the next week or so, check the bag periodically for moisture. If the towel is beginning to dry out, add moisture by spraying with a spray bottle and resealing the bag. At the end of the 7-10 days, remove the paper towel from the bag and check to see how many seeds have sprouted. Some seeds may need longer to germinate, make sure to check your seed packets or online sources to confirm how many days your specific seeds will need for this process. The general rule of thumb is if less than 7 out of the 10 seeds tested have sprouted, then you're going to want to order more seeds of that variety for planting this year. If between 70% and 90% of the seeds have sprouted, you should be good to get them in the ground once the weather warms up (or start them indoors). Many people will toss the germination test seeds, but they can also be planted in flats if they are carefully handled, and grown indoors until the last frost of the year has passed. If you're like many home gardeners, you'll have a good amount of non-viable seeds. This happens, and doesn't necessarily mean that they were stored improperly or that any part of the process was done incorrectly. Sometimes seeds just don't make it if they're not in their natural habitat. The silver lining is that there are many seed companies online, or you can visit a local seed library. For more information on seeds, take a look at the Seed module of our Home Gardening Course: Happy testing, and feel free to comment below about the effectiveness of your seed storage techniques and results of your viability testing this year; We grow together!
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AuthorAn Alameda County Master Gardener with a love for the outdoors, gardening, self sufficiency, and the environment. Archives
January 2025
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