Toss your old seeds? The germination test that saves money and bed space
That half-empty seed packet from last year doesn't have to go in the trash. With a paper towel and ten seeds you'll usually know within one to two weeks whether it's still good.
In November many of us sort through the seed box and wonder: keep it or buy new? The answer isn’t printed on the packet’s date but in a small test you can do at the kitchen table. Often it turns out that plenty of seeds still germinate just fine.
The myth of one-year seeds
Many packets carry a date, and it quickly turns into a rule: anything older goes in the trash. In reality, shelf life depends heavily on the species. Tomatoes, beans, peas, squash and cucumbers often still germinate reliably after three to five years if stored well. Onions, leeks and parsnips, on the other hand, often lose a lot of vigor after just one to two years. For parsnips, it’s worth testing every year.
The germination test, step by step
Setting it up takes just five minutes. Place ten seeds a little apart on a damp paper towel. It should be wet but not dripping. Fold it up, put it in a lunch box or a freezer bag and keep it somewhere warm, such as on top of the fridge or on a living-room shelf at around 20 degrees Celsius. Check every few days that the paper is still damp.
How long you need to wait
Patience depends on the plant. Cress shows up after two to three days, radishes after three to five days, lettuce after three to seven days and tomatoes after five to ten days. Parsnips and parsley can take two to four weeks. Only count at the end of that period how many seeds have produced a white root tip.
What the result means
If eight or more out of ten seeds germinate, you’re in good shape and can sow as usual. With five to seven, simply sow a bit more thickly and thin out later. With fewer than five, fresh seed is worth it, because otherwise you lose weeks and bed space. Write the result straight onto the packet so you don’t have to work it out again in spring.
How to keep seeds fit for longer
Seeds like it cool, dark and dry. A screw-top jar in the cellar or an unheated room at around 5 to 10 degrees Celsius is ideal, ideally with a pouch of desiccant or a handful of dry rice. Avoid kitchen shelves next to the stove and damp garden sheds, because heat and moisture are the biggest enemies of germination.
Order now or wait until January?
Once the test shows what needs replacing, ordering early pays off: popular varieties are often sold out at small suppliers by winter. If you plan your beds in Rootivo now, you’ll also know more precisely how much seed you really need.