What did you do in the garden today?

[jxp]

I found these very old seeds when snooping through a closet, I wonder if I can get any to germinate View attachment 4195354

Definitely worth a try. While going through random boxes in storage I canme across a small collection from 2014. Carrots and gourds were duds but nearly every single one of the cantaloupes sprouted. The rest were partially successful.

 

[Supercow]

 

[Rick589]

I stopped growing them..no matter when I picked it was wrong. Too early, too late and never when it should be. And trust me I tried every advice on how to tell. Figured I just am not meant to grow them.

I definitely feel you on this.

 

[Rick589]

Picked cucumbers, had a couple bell peppers that broke off in our storm the other day, so decided to make some sweet pickle relish. I love it on hard boiled eggs. Don't judge me until you try it! View attachment 4195361

Actually sounds good to me.

 

[Rick589]

I had some with a 2017 expiry. Too bad i threw them around at the end of summer because so many germinated.

Always wondered about these expiration dates. Afterall, there is a world seed bank and I’m certain they have seeds, presumably viable, way older than some of the ‘expired’ seeds we deal with.

 

[OnlySympathy]

Always wondered about these expiration dates. Afterall, there is a world seed bank and I’m certain they have seeds, presumably viable, way older than some of the ‘expired’ seeds we deal with.

The seed vault is kept very cold apparently (thanks Google)

 

[Sally PB]

The story behind that seed vault, IIRC, was that someone approached someone in the Norwegian government with the idea. He explained that the genetic legacy in the seeds was crucial to the human race, should we ever have a major, world-wide crop failure. He said that that place was ideal, as far as storage conditions go, and that Norway as a country was ideal, because they don't get into wars.

The person in the Norwegian government's response was something like, "With everything you've told me, how can we refuse this project?"

 

[chicken opey]

I picked okra and hunted hornworms. I didn’t see anymore eaten watermelons so maybe it was something passing thru.
I question if I have the internal strength to integrate my flocks. I find myself saying out loud “Can’t yall just be nice to each other?” As if a chicken can rationalize

 

[Rick589]

The seed vault is kept very cold apparently (thanks Google)View attachment 4195649

By extension then those of us with deep freezers should be able to freeze our leftover seeds and have indefinite viability.

 

[WilderSkye]

I keep chard through the winter also. Row covers over the beds and I harvest kale, chard and carrots all winter. It slows growth dramatically in winter, but if I get it big enough before really cold weather I can pick some every week all winter long.

We can get down to -10 here yet I can always scavenge something out of the garden. I saw a YT once with this lady from Halifax that keeps a garden going in winter by using snow as insulation. Pretty inspiring.

Per saving seed: the first time I ordered from Baker Creek I was overly ambitious and bought over $200 of seeds. Still viable five years later. I keep them in a mini wine cooler that we have for seed vault storage as we grow THC and CBD, too. And at upwards of $10 a seed you dont dare throw them away.