Dry, cool and dark key for germination

On several occasions, I have been asked, "Will seed stored over a year still germinate?"

I normally tell gardeners more than likely it will germinate if it has been stored in a cool, dry, dark place.

But if you really want to know if your stored seed is any good, run a germination test on it. It is a lot easier to run a germination test on the seed and find out that it is no longer good, than it is to go to all the trouble to sow the seed and then find out that none of it germinates.

A seed germination test is easy to do. Find a large shallow saucer. One about 12 inches across will do nicely. Cover the saucer with two layers of a paper towel. Next spread out 100 seeds on top of the paper towel. Keep them spaced so that they do not touch each other.

Now cover the seeds with another two layers of paper towel. Next pour water over the paper towels. Make sure that all of the paper towels are wet. The first time you water the paper towels leave about 1/8 inch of water standing in the saucer. The seed will take up this water rapidly, so you need to start with the seeds standing in water.

Next place the saucer in a warm, dark location. Check the saucer two to three times per day to make sure that the paper towels remain moist. Beyond the first watering, you don't need to keep the seeds standing in water, but the paper towels must remain damp.

After the first one or two days, you will notice that the seeds begin to swell. Keep checking the paper towels for moisture two to three times per day. Depending upon the room temperature and the kind of seed that you are testing, you will find the roots from viable seed beginning to emerge in four to 10 days.

If most of the seeds swell and produce a root, then you know that the seed is viable and will give you a good stand of plants when sewn. If you want to know for sure what the germination percentage is, count how many seeds out of the 100 actually germinate. If you find that 95 out of 100 germinate, then the germination percentage is 95.

You can use this germination testing procedure for any kind of seed that you may have stored. A little effort inside your home may save you the effort of planting seed that won't germinate.

Send your gardening and landscape questions to Paul Schnare at P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699 or by e-mail to news@semissourian.com.