As of: February 23, 2024, 8:00 a.m
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Is that still good or does it have to go?
Seeds can also go bad.
You can determine the germination ability of seeds with a simple germination test.
Spring is slowly approaching.
After the dreary winter months, there is great anticipation of warmer days - especially among all hobby gardeners.
In order to optimally prepare for the new gardening season, old seeds should be subjected to a thorough examination.
After all, it would be a shame if after a few weeks it turns out that the seeds no longer sprout.
A germ sample is suitable as a test.
Plant seeds lose their ability to germinate
Over time, the ability of seeds to germinate decreases.
The packaging of purchased plant seeds usually states how long they will last.
If stored for too long or improperly, the seeds lose their ability to germinate.
The reason for this is that the seeds continue to prepare for germination.
Over time, so much energy is lost that there are no reserves left for germination.
If you use seeds that are too old, you may be in for a nasty surprise.
Fortunately, there is a trick to test the germination of plant seeds.
Germination sample: Are your old seeds still usable?
You don't need much for the germination sample.
Moisten paper towels and place them in a shallow bowl or plate.
Now sprinkle the old seeds on top.
According to the consumer portal
utopia.de,
twelve to 15 seeds are sufficient for a sample.
Put cling film over it.
Now place the bowl in a warm and bright place.
Caution: If the seeds are dark germinators, you should use a darkened place for the germination sample instead.
Typical representatives include bush beans, cucumbers, nasturtiums and hollyhocks.
The germination test: A useful trick to determine the germination ability of old seeds.
© IMAGO
It is also important to keep the kitchen paper with the seeds moist.
You can use a spray bottle for this, for example.
If the paper becomes too dry, the germination test will not work.
The seeds begin to germinate at different rates depending on the plant species.
In many cabbage plants, the radicle roots appear after just two days.
For carrots, on the other hand, it can take up to two weeks.
So stay patient!
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Germ sample: This is how the result can be evaluated
Now you can do the spot check: If at least half of the seeds sprout, then the seeds can be used again.
If there are a little less, you can sow twice as much when sowing.
If hardly any seeds have germinated, you should get new seeds.
Otherwise it's simply not worth the effort.
But much more can be observed in the germ sample.
The plant delivery company
Garten Schlüter
writes about this on its website: “Have healthy plants developed or are they stunted shoots?
If the latter is the case, the ability to germinate is retained, but the plants are still not suitable for sowing. The more carefully you examine the seeds and sprouts, the more you can learn about the quality of the seeds.
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How do seeds last longer?
Everyone has old seed bags lying around somewhere.
To extend the shelf life as long as possible, you should ensure proper storage.
In a dry, dark and cool place, seeds age much more slowly.
According to
br.de,
a temperature of five to ten degrees is optimal for most seeds.
The humidity should be 30 to 35 percent.
The seeds can be placed in airtight containers.
If the environment is already dry, paper bags are sufficient for storage.
A seed box helps to organize the different seeds even better.
With tab cards you can organize the bags according to the time of sowing.
The box can be easily made from an old shoe box or wine crate.
To make the climate in the box even drier, you can add Silicea sachets.
The silica gel it contains is highly moisture-binding and can ensure that the seeds age less quickly.