seeds life

[desertlady]

Whats the shelf life for tomato seeds? My friend forgotten that he has a box of tomato seeds. the dates are 1998 and 2005. he has all kinds of them and some may be heirlooms.

 

[seedcorn]

depends upon how they were stored. If stored in cool area that doesn't vary in temperatures, germ will stay good for decades.

 

[Collector]

You can test them by putting some seeds between 2 wet paper towels and seeing if any sprout.

 

[HunkieDorie23]

You can test them by putting some seeds between 2 wet paper towels and seeing if any sprout.

I do this all the time. It is an excellent way to check for viability.

 

[catjac1975]

Tomatoes keep a long time even in less than ideal conditions.

 

[hangin'witthepeeps]

I just put some tomato seeds my great Aunt Ruth gave me before she died 2 years ago and they sprouted. I still have the little envelope they were bought in. They were marketed for 1998. All of them germinated and I have 2" sprouts that are putting on their 2nd set of leaves now. We keep our seed packets in the freezer in a ziplock bag.

 

[desertlady]

Thank you ! I will let my friend know ! Somewhere I read that someone had seeds that were 200 years old and was able to grow them ! amazing !!!! Thanks again !!