In true Yankee spirit, this year I'm testing my leftover seeds to see if they are still viable. I've done this in the past with pumpkin seeds, but I've never done it with so many other varieties. If the seeds are still good, there's no need to buy new packets for planting.
The testing is pretty easy. Take a lightly damp (squeeze out as much water as you can) paper towel and place 10 or 20 seeds on it. Roll the towel up and seal it in a ziploc baggy to help keep it damp. Be sure to label the baggy so you know what kind of seeds you're testing and when you started the test. I also note how old the seeds are.
Place the seeds out of the way. I choose a spot that is out of direct sunlight and stays fairly warm without getting hot. Let them sit for a week and then carefully open the packages to see if you have anything sprouting. It is worth noting that some seeds may take longer than 7 days to sprout and those seeds should be placed back into the baggies to continue the test. You'll find germination time information on the package the seeds came in.
This should give you an idea of whether the seeds are still worth planting. By planting 10 or 20 seeds, you can easily do the math to figure out the germination percentage. For example, if I plant 10 seeds and 8 of them sprout, I have an 80% germination rate. That's pretty good odds that using these seeds will net me plenty of plants for the garden. The Johnny's packets are labeled with a "fresh" germination rate, so I can compare my results with their original test results and see how the seeds have changed as they've aged.
Being able to use old seeds will save me some cash to put toward new varieties and the mostly dog-proof fence I hope to put up this spring.
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