old seeds

[aquilegia]

When tidying up the school shed earlier I found a whole load of old seeds, also have some of my own! Most are between 2 and 6 years past their date (if they even have a date!)

I know parsnips and (I think) peppers don't last. Are there any others that it's not even worth trying? Or are they any that keep for ages and ages (am I right in thinking tomatoes do?)

Or is there any way to check whether the seeds are still viable, other than by sowing them and (potentially) wasting time and compost and (more importantly) disappointing the children?

The seeds are mostly veg, salads and herbs, plus a few flowers. (so a bit of everything really, but the edibles are most important!)

[aquilegia]

[sparrow]

Chit them.

My 2-year old parnsips were still viable, just only 50% of them.

[aquilegia]

chit how?

that's good to know about parsnips - normally I've just sown the rest of the packet in my flower bed as I love the flowers!

[Amazingrotavator(Derby)]

Sow them on damp blotting paper.

[Digeroo]

If you do not have blotting paper, kitchen roll is perfect.   Damp but not too wet.   Sometime a spell in the freezer wakes things up.

[aquilegia]

Thanks!