Hi all!!! :o
Another Silly Question I Know!!
I have some of my "Sutton" dwarf broad bean seeds left over from this year!! I want to plant them this autumn but the pack says sow them before June 2005 - Will they be o.k to use this November?? ???
Nobbs xx :-*
yes.
  Hi Nobby,  The life expectancy of broad bean seed is two years
under normal conditions. Then the germination percentage will drop of rapidly. If unsure take ten seeds put them on a sheet of damp kitchen roll, keep damp and the amount that germinate will give you the percentage that should grow when planted in the ground. Â Â LesH
I think they found some broad bean seeds in a tomb with an Egyptian Mummy which germinated just fine. Yours should be ok!
I've had seeds germinate from packets which are 4 or 5 years out of date - not as reliable as fresh stuff, but following the advice of D.G Hessayon I usually plant two bean or pea seeds where I want one plant - usually I got two plants and had to choose the stronger one anyway. Obviously seed merchants would like to sell you new seeds, with a guaranteed high germination rate, but as I've not yet managed to plant enough of one seed type to use up a packet in just one or two years, I'm often using out-of-date seeds.
Does anybody know if there's an increased risk of disease or weak plant, if you use an older seed? Or, assuming it does actually germinate, can you expect the same growth as with fresh seed?
Dr Hessayons book "Vegetable and Herb Expert" gives life expectancy of stored seed for every type of plant and says for broad beans 2 years.
It doesn't seem to work with Parsnip seeds. I can never get out of date ones to germinate.
some seeds are worse than others.
i keep my seed packets in the fridge in the veg compartment (i dont have any veg there now because it always comes straight from the plot into the pot :)) and this should prolong their life as they dont like it hot.
Hi Nobbyman, I agree with previous on this thread, go ahead and plant 'em two to a station, with a few at the side in case two fail to come up. Winter sown BBs may get eaten by slugs or killed by the severe winter we are promised, so it seems like a good idea to use up your old stock for the autumn sowing!
What's the worst that could happen? There's always next year! ;D
Nobby,
Sorry you're out of them but we haven't got any date seeds either!
I suppose we'll wait until Christmas and use the stones.
;D
Thanx all for your advice!!
I will sow them - i assume in has to be done in November!!
Nobbs XX
P.S Out of date seeds I like it!! :P