How Long Do Seeds Remain Viable?

[Sleepy]

Hi...

how long will seeds remain viable?

any opinions on this?

are there benefits/drawbacks to storing my seeds one particular way or another?

thanks.

 

[Legit_User]

Going on 7 years and getting 100% germ rate on a batch of seeds that have been in my drawer, on the shelf, under the bed, in my smoke tray, etc......
I am afraid of the whole freezer/refrigerator thing.
I keep my "elite" seeds in a Tupperware container in my sock drawer.
Stay peaceful

 

[glock23]

I keep mine at room temperature too. I do notice a decline in sprout vigor and germ rates over time though.

 

[Nikijad4210]

Everything I've grown has been from bagseed collected over a period of years. The 70 or so seeds that I have left are around 4 years old. I've had a steady germ rate for a few years' worth of growing of around 90%.

 

[overgrow00]

What is to be afraid of when storing your seeds in the freezer?

 

[Guest]

What is to be afraid of when storing your seeds in the freezer?

Makes them very brittle while they are frozen.

Also, if yer power goes off - they thaw

IMHO

ws

 

[genkisan]

I keep my JHxWR seeds in the freezer (have thousands), they are dusted with an anti-fungal and still give 95-98% germination after 6-7 years...or so the folks I give them too say.


I don't grow........

 

[Guest]

Although they last a long time frozen we are not sure on total 'viability' of seeds after a long time i dont think. Some more research needs to be done with this species to understand genetic degradations in seed lots over long periods of time. The Valivov institute go with a five year cycle for Cannabis seed assecions for lines in storage. I know that the germ rates of old seed over 20 years can appear ok, but im not 100% sure all the Alleles are, not having original mothers etc to measure them against.

In a conversation with others it is pretty safe to say we can germ seeds up to 40 years old. But we need scientists to tell us if the genetics remain the same.

Peace, hhf

 

[ojd]

keep mine in the fridge
and they stay viable for years and more

 

[Guest]

I've heard of people growing with 20 year old seeds that were properly stored.

They can last a while.

 

[Pursewarden]

Seeds last pretty much indefinitely, if keep away from moisture and direct sunlight. Seeds are made to withstand a beating for the sake of the species, heck, birds eat seeds and void them intact (hence why birds are great for spreading plants/flowers where you don't want them). I think I read somewhere that scientists are able to cultivate plants from ancient seeds that they find at excavation sites.

 

[FlyvAgaric]

yeah sleepy, Seeds last a long time.

 

[pipeline]

cool (room temp), dark, and dry...... all ya need to know. Not much experience to draw on, but I don't want to rely on the the power company to retain seed viability....

 

[nycdfan042]

cool (room temp), dark, and dry...... all ya need to know. Not much experience to draw on, but I don't want to rely on the the power company to retain seed viability....

i agree, unless you have an automated back up generator that kicks on automatically. I keep mines in a tupper wear away from direct sunlight and closed, ive popped seeds from 2 yrs ago and they germed great!

 

[Budless]

Seeds can last indefinitely. As long as they're in a cool, dark, and *DRY* place then they should hold for a long as you need them. As everybody has said here the germ rates decline as the years go by.

 

[jojajico]

it depends alot on the strain as different strains will have different thickness of cask (i think thats the right word). the thicker the cask the longer the seeds stay viable as thinner cask allows moisture to penetrate the seed and start germination or in most cases of long storage kill the seed. that is why it is sometimes, before germination, useful to scarify the seed casing to help the process along.

 

[pipeline]

*seed coat*

A thick seed coat could possibly help a seed remain viable longer. A thick coat could limit respiration because less gas would be exchanged compared to a less developed thin shelled seed . A low level of oxygen leading to a low respiration rate allows the seed to metabolize its energy reserves more slowly, allowing it to be viable for a longer time.

Moisture penetration plays into it too, but if you're storing at room temp, moisture will cause the seed to germinate..... have to keep it away.....

 

[overgrow00]

So What would happen if they thawed out?
I put all my seeds in breeder packs into two seperate tubberware containers and in the fridge.
If i took them out now they would thaw and be less viable?
Do I have to keep them in there untill i germ them? Would that not thaw them?

 

[pipeline]

If they're in the fridge, they should be left in there until its time to germinate them. You can't say for sure whether or not germination success will go down if you take them out before you're ready to germ, probably not, but if they were cooled and warmed multiple times it would more likely lower sucess rates.

 

[overgrow00]

whats better freezer or fridge?