Seed Saving

[dvines]

If you don't use all of your heirloom seeds in the packet can you save them for next year or do you have to throw them away like hybrib seeds?

[GennyL]

I don't toss either? Why do you throw away Hybrids?

[dvines]

I use Burpee seed packs I get from Lowes. I saved some of the seeds for the next year only 1 or 2 seeds sprouted out of 20 or 25 seeds. The guy at Lowes said the seeds are only good for the date that is on the seed pack

[Garden Angel]

Usually seeds of any type are good for a few years and sometimes they are good for many years. It's better to use them in one to three years rather than have them go to waste. There can be many reasons seeds don't germinate. If seeds are not kept very consistantly wet they will start to germinate and then dry up before they pop up through the soil. Lowes is probably supposed to say that so customers don't get upset with them if seeds don't sprout. But I have many seeds 3-4 years old sprout just fine. Generally the newer they are the more of them will sprout. Sometimes you hear of a story of someone finding an old can of seed in the shed or grandpas barn or something being God knows how old, 20 or more years? And some of them sprout! Some of the best heirlooms we have were found and saved this way. Don't throw out old seed! Just try to germinate it! You never know what you'll get or save that could be lost!