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The Show => Sunflowers => Topic started by: Powderfan on April 08, 2008, 06:52:58

Title: Old seeds dead or alive?
Post by: Powderfan on April 08, 2008, 06:52:58: Hi Guys and Gals

I have been given a packet of sunflower seeds from a family friend and potted them up but its been about 2 weeks now and nothing seems to have happened. The packet is probably about 2 years old and was kept on a window sill in direct sun for that time. The printing has faded now so I have no instructions and expected germination times etc. I planted them about 3/4 inch below surface and compost has been kept moist and warm on a windowsill.

So what do you think? Are my seeds a lost cause or should I wait a little longer to see if they germinate?

Thanks

Michael
Title: Re: Old seeds dead or alive?
Post by: Deb P on April 08, 2008, 09:18:25: It doesn't sound as if the seeds were kept in the most ideal conditions, but I would give them a bit longer before writing them off. My sunflowers are in my cold greenhouse and just showing some signs of germination after almost two weeks.
Title: Re: Old seeds dead or alive?
Post by: Powderfan on April 08, 2008, 12:35:36: Hi Deb

Thanks for the heads up. Sounds like I ought to hang on for naother week or so. It's not a massive problem as this weekend I helped the mothering law pot some sunflowers she bought. I recon there should be a spare or two I could borrow on a permanent basis.

Michael
Title: Re: Old seeds dead or alive?
Post by: posie on April 08, 2008, 12:56:29: Sunflower seeds I bought the other day said a germination time of 2 - 3 weeks, so hang on a bit. Having said that, they must like my windowsill because they poked up within 4 days!
Title: Re: Old seeds dead or alive?
Post by: artichoke on April 09, 2008, 21:02:41: Buying books in Germany last week, I found, when I unpacked them, that 5 free sunflower seeds were included (symbolic?) so I put them (the seeds) in a plastic pot with water and damp rags inside a plastic bag in the airing cupboard, as I do with all seeds. Two days later they are putting out big fat roots.

I don't like to take any trouble with seeds that are not viable. If they put out roots I plant them in pots with compost, and if they don't, I don't.
Title: Re: Old seeds dead or alive?
Post by: manicscousers on April 09, 2008, 21:06:48: I've just put my saved seeds into a bag on damp kitchen towel..saves messing about with duff seeds ;D
Title: Re: Old seeds dead or alive?
Post by: mrf94 on April 13, 2008, 22:33:08: One of the younguns jobs as it were is climbing the tree and hanging the fat balls ,A few weeks ago he came into the shed with a sunflower seed scraped out of one of the balls , he put it on a ledge till he saw me filling pots with compost , pinched one pushed his seed in and left it to me to ?care for, Its the one three pots away from this end nearest the glass

(http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee96/mrf94/Photo_041208_012.jpg)

mrf94
Title: Re: Old seeds dead or alive?
Post by: manicscousers on April 14, 2008, 07:02:15: 27 up and counting ;D
Title: Re: Old seeds dead or alive?
Post by: Powderfan on April 21, 2008, 06:49:27: Hi Guys and Gals

Could not wait any longer been about 5 weeks or so no. I scooped out the compost and the seeds showed no signs of growth so I have given up on them and used the posts for something else. The mother in law has planted some new seeds so I shall nab a couple of those once they germinate. Thanks for all your advice any way.

Michael