The seed…
Keeping up with the early start, I got out the seed from its storage chest to take a look. With the tiny farm’s growing HISTORY (hey, Year 6, coming up!), keeping the seeds sorted for freshness is an ever more…serious consideration. Old seed won’t work, and there’s always lots of carryover from year to year. For this garden’s veggie selection, seed life in cool, dry storage conditions falls into three categories: nice and long (around 5 years, for brassicas, cucumber/squash family, lettuce, tomatoes,…), medium (around 3 years: beans, peas, carrots,…), and SHORT (1-2 years, for onions, corn, parsnip, parsley,…not too many here). Luckily, this is all book info, not gathered from painful personal experience! But I listen closely, ’cause one of my biggest garden nightmares is THINGS NOT GERMINATING… There are enough reasons why gazing happily on those newly seeded, semi-straight rows might be the greatest satisfaction they ever offer, and dead seed shouldn’t be one of ‘em. My first germination test last year seemed to bear out the wisdom of others: normally-stored seed is not forever… So, it’s checking packs and taking dates!
Somewhat related posts: • Tomato seed • Books! Seed! Orders arrive… • The Bookshelf, Part 1 • First cuts • Extreme makeover
Anne said,
December 10, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
What book(s) did you get the germination info from?. I would be interested to have the same information. I have had decent luck with older seeds, but they really have to be babied - like presoak, warming pad, grow lighting and all that. The newer seed doesn’t seem to need as much attention.
Mike (planbe) said,
December 12, 2007 @ 9:57 am
oooooohh errrr…. I know that feeling, the dread fear of “THINGS NOT GERMINATING”…
Maybe you need to add another category, though “Things that seem to last for ever”, inhabited solely by Swiss Chard and Beetroot. I have an ordleplex of Swiss Chard seed that’s going on for 8 years now, living in an ordinary cupboard — no “cool conditions” around here — and still going strong. Still; I have a batch going to seed now, just to get a refresh before it all ends in tears.
I don’t think the seed read the books…
Mike (tfb) said,
December 12, 2007 @ 11:44 am
Mike: I believe you’re right, seed doesn’t read the books, it’s me reading the books and going (less and less), “Oh, I better do it that way,” or (more often as time goes by), “Hmmm, wonder how exactly accurate that is, what if I didn’t…” I also sometimes use the accumulated wisdom of the books to add a dash of adrenaline to the tiny farming mix: “Uh-oh, maybe all my seed has JUST EXPIRED.” And so, I immediately do a thorough seed inventory with germination tests (which may have been a bit of a chore without the extra motivation…. :)
I think a semi-reliance on book reference comes from not growing up on a farm, missing formative childhood experiences like playing with a freshly severed cow’s head on the gangway to the barn as the local butcher does a housecall to prepare some family food right on the spot (story from a farm-raised friend). That way, you gently learn that things are what you see, not what people tell you they should be! (Life-long farmer Bob never reads research, he does read instructions, like how to assemble the new sand spreader delivered in 65 pieces. From reading, I’ve come up with stuff that he didn’t know, but I can’t see him failing at the same things just ’cause he didn’t read, he’d likely figure it out…!)
The other concern, though, is that less viable seed may result in weaker, less vigorous plants… Uh-oh. Always something!
Anne: The seed viability chart I’ve been using is from a book called Seed Sowing and Saving (Carole B. Turner; Storey Publishing). No particular reason, except that it’s easy to flip to at the back of the book, and I tend to trust Storey publications, they’ve been on point so far. But they’re only starting points, and like everything else in books, I’ve found you’ve really gotta look around if you want a measured opinion, ’cause they seldom all agree on ANYTHING. For example, here are three online viability charts: Seed-Storage Times and Viability, Seed For The Garden, Easy Seed Germination (short chart, scroll down). They all more or less agree on quite a few veggies, but then you have, say, spinach, which lasts 1, 3, or 5-6 years, depending on the chart (my book says 5, and my experience agrees with at least 3 no problem). So much for second (and third) opinions… I’ve found that books are good to the point where you use their advice, then you find out for yourself! :)
Anne said,
December 12, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
Thank you. I have always been curious about recommendations for seed shelf-life. I have never paid much attention to it, but I can see on larger farms where it would be a much bigger concern.