A gardener in Denver told me my tomato seeds were too old to trade, so I started a germination test jar

3 comments

3 Comments

That seems a bit harsh from the gardener. Old seeds can still pop, just maybe not all of them. I've had stuff from the back of a drawer sprout years later. A test jar is smart, but getting told they're worthless for trade feels like overkill. It's just seeds, not a life or death thing.

lisa_grant2mo ago

My 2018 basil seeds are basically just fancy dust now.

jana_davis901mo ago

Actually, that gardener's rule makes sense for a seed swap. It's not about being mean. If you trade old seeds with low germination, you're basically giving someone a dud packet. They'd waste time and space on seeds that might not grow. The test jar is the perfect first step to see what's actually still good.