? about planting veggie seeds.

[monster1]

i have several packages of veggie seeds. they are about four to five years old. they have been in my garage for that time. the garage gets quite hot in the summertime. i want to plant some seeds this spring. are these seeds ok to plant or should i not waste my time? i don't want to miss my planting window on trying to grow seeds that won't sprout or plants that won't produce.

thanks

 

[lavandula girl]

Test a couple from each pkg by sprouting them... wet a paper towel & wring it most of the way out. Set a few seeds in it, and place it in an open baggie. Check them in a few days, and keep checking for up to about 2 weeks... anything viable should have sprouted in that time. I'd test at least five from the pkg. What kind of seeds are they?

 

[monster1]

corn, snap peas, cucumbers, watermelon, and pumpkins.

 

[lavandula girl]

The corn and peas might be iffy. I'd lay odds that the cukes will sprout, as well as the melon and pumpkin.

Edited to add - the peas will sprout quickly when you test them, though, so you'll be able to find out quickly if the seed is good.

 

[Mahonri]

I'd just soak them, plant them and see what happens.

 

[lengel]

This is probably a waste but when I find a package of seeds that is really old, I plant all of them fairly closely together then thin them if too many come up. I like to maximize my odds.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Have you guys joined TheEasyGarden yet?