From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Southern Illinois

i have talked to many growers and they said they cant get seed to germinate from the 96 seed and lower,has any one else had problems with trying to germinate old seed.

12/30/2002 9:20:21 AM

Puyallup, WA

Tom Beachy is the fellow you need to talk to regarding germination of old seed.

12/30/2002 10:01:08 AM

Webster, NY

There is a neat story at pumpkinnook.com about a person finding 50 year old seed (not AG's but another variety of pumpkin). Just to give it a go, he planted all the seeds he found and the majority of them germinated.

http://www.pumpkinnook.com/commune/pie1957.htm

12/30/2002 10:10:37 AM

Liverpool , England

Yo Heavy,
I passed some Ag seed on to Nic Welty....A seed from 1989 germinated for him.

Alun

12/30/2002 2:37:32 PM

Indiana

The 1996 seed could very well germinate, but the 1992 seed will more times than that not. I tried about 400 pre 1992 seeds, and got 6 plants. 1.5% germination rate.....not good.....


Tom Beachy

12/30/2002 2:37:36 PM

Morris, Connecticut

A general rule that should be followed with all seeds is that the larger the seed the shorter the shelf life. Unfortunatly, AG seeds are rather large and consequantly have a rather short shelf life (3-5 years). That said, proper storage of the seed can dramatically increase the shelf life. If seeds are stored in a refrigerator at 41F I would expect them to last much longer than seeds stored on a shelf at room temperature.

How were the seeds from 1992 and 1996 stored?? I would make sure I knew before spending money in an auction or making a trade......

12/30/2002 3:15:36 PM

Indiana

Ya I agree, if a seed isnt stored in a fridge or Freezer THE WHOLE TIME, you might as well play the lottery. You could get lucky, but you are probably wasting your money so to speak.

Tom Beachy

12/30/2002 3:35:41 PM

Long Island,New York

Heavy Grower...your talking to the wrong people. A generalization like that is absurd. I germed a pair of the weakest looking 900lyons seeds from 94 in 2001 and both germed.I germed a 92 seed and a 91 seed in 2000.I plan on trying a number of 1991, 92, 93 and 94 seeds this year for a little project also. As I look through my seed list I see quite a few 9-10-11 year old seeds as parents.Sure, germination rates go down with age....proper staorage is key, and some just last longer than others....but I wouldnt shy from a seed from 1996.........my 2 cents.....G

12/30/2002 4:54:31 PM

Webster, NY

LIpumpkin, how are you storing your seeds?

Dave

12/30/2002 4:59:49 PM

Commack, NY

i grew a seed from 1995 last year.

scott

12/30/2002 6:03:42 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Hello Everyone,
My neighbor who is 83. Has been a gardner for years. How does he store his seeds? In the freezer. He puts them in small envelopes, than places them in plastic containers. The old guy has told me where he has had seeds 8-10 years and he might get half of them to grow. So this is the same way i store my seeds now

12/30/2002 6:13:29 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

I freeze, my grandparents did so that's good enough for me. It makes sense that it should prolong viability.
I wrap seed in freezer paper, and put 'em in freezer bags with silicant packs to absorb moisture. (Most any department store will give 'em to you because nobody ever comes in asking)
I also plan to germinate some '93-96 seed in 2003. Really not too concerned about it, as a vegetable gardener I've germinated other seed 10-12 years old.
Does anyone else remove the seed shell to germinate?

12/30/2002 6:48:06 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Rick,

This is where those giberellins are going to help coax those oldies along for you.

Steve

12/30/2002 9:01:51 PM

So. Maine

Would anyone like to take a stab as to which pre-96 seed would be on thier germination list for 2003 ? Al

12/31/2002 12:12:13 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

708.5 Holland '95 and 696 Holland '94.

12/31/2002 6:09:45 AM

Commack, NY

depending on how seed trading goes, 887 orr

Scott

12/31/2002 8:45:07 AM

Long Island,New York

SHHHH...Al....secret breeding program...I could tell you, but Id have to kill you afterwards...lol...you would remember them though......Glenn

12/31/2002 10:14:50 AM

Farmington, Utah

Didn't Howard Dill get this AG started by finding seeds from the world record squash grown by Warnock in 1904. I thought this was the main part of his genetics of the AGs was the Warnock seed. If this is true, those were some old seeds.
Kenny B

12/31/2002 11:27:03 AM

So. Maine

I checked my old seed stock (it goes back to 1991) and I have the 696 Holland, (white seed) the 708.5 (whitish/tan)and they sound solid. I had a Orr 887, planted it in 96 but lost the plant due to flooding. Checked on the Warnock (04) and don't have it...lol.. Al

12/31/2002 2:07:21 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Would using the "advanced" seed starting method(removing the shell)help counteract the age of a seed? Logic tells me it would.

1/1/2003 7:23:57 AM

Caceres, Spain

As far as I read on the subject but on different seeds, the way Steve recommend to stimulate germination on old seeds is advised: giberellins. But also read that having the seeds into a strong magnetic field can help a lot. And another way, easier, is to have them one day in fresh water with an air bubbler working into. You'll need some aquarium supplies: a pump, some air tubing, a gang valve, and one bubbler.
Don

1/1/2003 8:32:02 AM

Carrollton, Ga.

What are giberellins?
One Dude

1/1/2003 9:30:16 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

Simply stated they're germination stimulators.
There are those far more learned than I on the subject, your 2 cents guys? I could use a refresher......

1/1/2003 10:19:00 AM

Southern Illinois

i have had a bunch of email saying the top notch growers use the giberellins to get there old seed to germinate,i have never had a bunch of old seed will play with it this spring.

1/1/2003 11:10:04 AM

Western Pa.

I saw some mighty fine giberellins at the strip club last weekend!

1/1/2003 2:40:07 PM

huntsburg,ohio

kilr i bet when you were in school and the teacher said mr.kilr please use fascinate in a sentense.well you know the rest. jerry

1/1/2003 2:50:29 PM