Seed sorting for 2025

No need to have a clear out this season, did it last year. I am noticing some seeds are getting difficult to find, varieties have grown before, just not around. Black Cheery Tomato is one, T&M are out of stock and not found any listed on Dobies/Suttons or Real Seeds. Not noticed Eskimoo carrots either, they were tasty crop around 3 or 4 years ago.

 

Maybe consider Black Opal, which I've grown for a few years. It's a black Cherry tomato with a good flavour.

 

I am part way through my sort out. I have discarded several very old packets of lettuce, beans etc. Always get new parsnip seed as it's not worth risking old seeds.

 

I've tested out some VERY old seed of basil varieties and got no germination, so out they go. It's a shame Seeds of Italy had such large packets - they tempted me, and I never used them all in time! Do they still do generous quantities?

 

Yes but if you choose to buy again, be very sure to check the packing date. There is less demand for these large packets and therefore they are relatively slow sellers....

 

Yes but that has always made me curious. Many packs say "packed the year ending ...." but that doesn't tell you how old the seeds were when they were put in the packet! I know there was legislation many decades ago to stop malpractice, apparently some unscrupulous merchants bulked up packs with old dead seeds etc etc.
Estimating seed viability is a bit of a dark art it seems to me, it's nothing to do with seed size . If you think things like poppy's can last decades in the soil, yet French beans seeds won't germinate well if they are more than a couple of years old.

 

Correct.
There used to be the Seeds Act 1920, which required a declaration that the seeds sold met specific germination rates, varying according to variety. This I seem to recall dissappeared when we surrendered to EEC/EU rule.
In those days seed companies supplied on a sale or return basis; whereby traders could return unsold packets for a graduated credit against 'new' collections in July/August. The packets were, allegedly, opened and contents mixed to contain 'fresh' seeds to correctly meet the prescribed percentage before repacketing in fresh packets for sale from October onwards.
Larger stockists were able to purchase Autumn collections containing seeds suited to Autumn/Winter sowing. These were on a straight sale basis-no returns.
With the appearance of multiple stores/garden centres , who demanded greater margins, the seed companies withdrew the previous service and , as you will have noticed, such outlets 'dump' their seed stocks just before the expiry date.
However, vitality of seeds is affected more by storage conditions than age. Opened packets are most at risk, of humidity and temperature change.
Your longlasting poppy seeds result from being buried below the germination zone, when disturbed/turned up they grow. Often in cornfields, poppies appear as if by magic where soil is suddenly brought up by slightly deeper ploughing, or classically, by artillery shells.

 

I went through my seeds a few weeks ago to chuck some stuff out. I've already made one premier seeds order this year and have most of what I need, although I forgot to get some Florence fennel seeds. I'll also get some seeds from Lidl again when they start selling new ones, they are great value and I've had decent success with them

 

I'd agree @Hanglow , Lidl have some good stuff, both in flowers and vegetables. Pity the range isn't better, but then they might have no room for their excellent almond croissants

 

@infradig Yes, I said I knew there was legislation! There are charts published giving expected life of seeds, and some are quite surprising, some not.
What I have noted personally is that things like lettuce seed are not lasting how they used to. Even with old favourites like little gem I have had germination issues on seeds bearly a year old , bought fresh seeds and had near 100% success. An ex work colleague of mine did a germination test , with some flower seed he had issues with. Reported the results to the seed company. Theysent replacements, and the repeated test was again near 100%.
Just shows, when things don't work it's not always our fault.

 

Last year I wondered what to do with all my ‘free’ flower seed packets… I filled a big crate with compost and sowed a selection of the free seeds (my niece enjoyed choosing and sowing a theme of pink and mauve). I pretty much left it to do or die and we had a beautiful little patch of flowers. I’ll definitely do that again.

 

So far as I recall, the Seeds Act declaration related only to vegetable seeds, which is my main concern.(As Grandad said ''you cant eat flowers'' )
My policy is to buy new each year , from Realseeds, their germination rate is excellent. They did write and apologise one year for sending a particular pea which had resulted in complaints, together with an unrequested replacement. I had not complained as had not had a failure.
I try and use any unplanted seed as microgreens during winter. I recoop such 'extravagance' by sale of surplus plants to neighbours etc. The loss of a planting is of greater consequence than the value of old seeds.