How do you test the viability of seeds?

Question

i found some seeds that were purchased a few years ago in the states. the pack says "season:2006". I asked around and found that you can test them by seeing which ones sink in water. they all sunk, so i planted them, but none grew. I live in the philippines, but kept them in the condition the pack indicated.

Answer 1

To test the viability of seeds, place a few of the seeds on a moist paper napkin and fold the napkin over the seeds.  Then place the moist napkin in a plastic bag (to hold in the moisture) and leave it in a warm place for a few days.  After several days, check to see if any of the seeds have begun to sprout.

The seeds are two years old so I would expect that their viability would be lower than if the seeds were fresh, but some may still sprout for you.

If any of the seeds do sprout in the napkin, you can carefully remove those seeds and plant them.  Seeds are typically planted to a depth three times the size of the seed.  If planted too deeply, seeds may not sprout.  

Some seeds need darkness to sprout, others need some light.  If we knew what kind of seeds these are, we could be more specific on how to plant them.

Answer 2

if they have been kept in a nice warm sack they should still be able pregnate.  

Answer 3

I'm not sure about testing.  Most seeds will have a reduced germination rate after the first year and it keeps going down.  I once saw a table for different vege seeds that actually had percentages of reduced germination over periods of years.  If I am planting seeds that are older, I just make up for the reduced germination by planting more seeds.  After the seeds are about five years old, I usually just toss them anyway.

There could have been other factors here, but I would honestly expect healthy seeds to still have some germinate after only two years past the pack date.  I often germinate seeds much older than that.

Answer 4

Can someone tell me what ‘mr-mac psycho’ is taking about? Or if it is better ignored – just don’t respond – I won’t lose sleep over it.  

Answer 5

maybe you should use a little terrarium greenhouse, I think thats what they call them.

Answer 6

Just sow them and give it a shot...what have you got to lose?