Looking through my seed box, some (most) of my seeds are out of date.Why did I buy 4 packets of over 1000 parsnips, well I like them. I think I will throw them, maybe on the allotment. Luckily my yellow courgettes are in date. Why did I buy so many packets as a bargain. My sweet peas are OK and I have saved seed, and my saved runner beans and some climbing peas. Toms are very out of date. While maybe soon I trip to the seed shop.
Parsnips don't last particularly well but if it was me I would chuck them all in a row and thin what comes up. Toms last ages ... I have had good germinations from 10 yr old tom seeds. If seeds are kept generally cool and dry many of them far exceed the use by dates.
There are several websites with tables of seed lifespans. Courgettes and other cucurbits should last for several years. Don't treat sow by dates as absolute. You can test germination of a % of the seeds on damp tissue paper in a warm place - you can also use this method to pre-germinate larger seeds which are best sown individually so you don't waste time, space & potting compost on dud seeds.
Me too ! :coffee2: Last year I tried the " germinating a few parsnip seeds on damp paper towel " thing ..and it worked !
Those were an out of date packet of parsnip seeds by one year . It is fiddly to then plant the tiny fragile newly germinated root , without breaking it.....but I got about 8 parsnips from doing this . Not prizewinner size by any means , but not too bad for our Sunday lunch . Having fun seed packet sorting , has anyone got a sensible routine for this ? Debbie :wave: