The oldest seeds you have successfully germinated?

A neighbour is currently having a clear out and he kindly came round and gave me some flower and herb seeds.

Ive looked at the packets and I was running amuck in the Upper Fours when they were last viable.






So, straight in the compost then, or do you dare me to give them a try?

 

My vote is for the celery germinating, only thing is that it's far too late to sow it, but might get large enough for use in making home made vegetable stock.

 

Worth giving them a go Melinda, nothing to loose but a bit of time & window sill space,

Scientists Grow Plant From World's Oldest Seed | News | English

Date stamp up ?

 

It's a bit late for sowing most seed now, although some could be started off in Autumn I guess. I reckon it's always worth giving seeds a go, no matter how "old" they are. You could be pleasantly surprised.

 

Anyway, they're from IKEA. Any seedlings you raise are bound to be the wrong colour or have essential parts missing.

 

:D

Have of any of YOU guys germinated ancient seeds!

Obviously not quite as per Zig's example, but more have you found a envelope of saved seeds in an allotment shed, or rescued a local heirloom variety from extinction?

That's the sort of tale we all want to hear about!


This Ikea offering is heading for the charity shop in my next trip!

 

Yes, from an ancient bag of horticultural Corriander.

Given to me by the boss of the mushroom farm. Must have been 10 years out of date at least. All of them came up

Try a few on blotting paper, you'll see if they are viable then.

Currently growing "Champion of England" peas, thought to have been extinct but now resurected from a few saved seeds

500 foot tall, bright red & smells terrible

 

I kea, therefore I am.

 

I have germinated Canna seed that was around 8 years old and had 100% germination; it wasn't stored in a fridge either.

I germinated quite a few things this year that were over 6/7 years old; mainly shrubs and perennials, all with good success rate.

Perhaps the strangest thing I've germinated that's also the oldest is from some dry flower/grass in a vase that my mum had for well over 10 years, I just noticed that there was seed in them and thought "oh well, just for a laugh :D" and they have germinated and they're growing on in my coldframe as we speak!!!!, haven't a clue what they are though???:D :thumb:

 

My jaw is on the floor.

Bilbo, I think you're definitely winning the thread (so far).

Grass from a dry flower display?!

*stands and applauds"

:D

 

Thanks Melinda.....not sure whether it was a grass or some form of dry flower head; it didn't look like a typical grass seed head.....only time will tell :D...I'll keep you updated as to what it turns out to be - hopefully :thumb:

 

Old seeds, lettuce 12 years small seeds pelleted in some sort of fertilize ball
like ball bearings, they are up and running five out of five planted

18 year old sweetpeas taken from my Dads only gardening
Pots of sweetpeas hung on a whitewashed backyard wall, he grew them every year, when he died I took the pods and stuck them in a brown envelope
only did not have a garden and did not have the time, last year I chucked them in containers and they grew I do not know the % rate just they grew and I now have their seed growing this year
Just sweetpeas a kids flower for growing so can not go wrong I suppose but we like them and make good house flowers with a sweet smell

Jack McH

 

Jack that is so very lovely. Growing your father's seeds must be very special.

 

Ask any Farmer, the seeds which have the longest store life (in the ground) are Brassica's and Poppies. The shell is very oily so it preserves them.

Why do the British Legion have the poppy as an emblem? Because they were the seeds which survived the shelling and mud of Flanders in WW1.