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tomato seeds

Blackpool 2008Blackpool 2008 Posts: 52
in Plants

I have found a seed packet of tomatoes which were 12 years old so I put some  seeds on a wet paper towel and left them for two weeks in a warm place and all have germinated.

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,743

    tomatoes are amazing, I've had them pop up the garden after being through the compost heap. They can also survive passing through a human,and sewage treatment and germinate.

    Devon.
  • Stacey DochertyStacey Docherty Posts: 1,759

    Hostafan my neighbour works at a sewage works and they have strawberry and tomato plants cropping up everywhere... He says they are best fruits you have ever eaten!!! 

  • staffsmagsstaffsmags Posts: 230

    Also Chilli seeds can be kept for years and still germinate. I'm using 5-year old seed this year.  Mags

  • ClaringtonClarington Posts: 4,949

    Quoting wikipedia:

    "The oldest carbon-14-dated seed that has grown into a viable plant was Silene stenophylla (narrow-leafed campion), an Arctic flower native to Siberia. Radiocarbon dating has confirmed an age of 31,800 ±300 years for the seeds"

    So there's hope for those seeds at the back of your tin yet!! image

  • ItalophileItalophile Posts: 1,731

    I'm using tom seeds I saved in 2003. Kept dry and at a consistent moderate temp, they will remain viable. If older seeds prove a bit stubborn, soak them overnight in warm water.

  • Rosie31Rosie31 Posts: 483

    Nature is a wonderful girl, isn't she?

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