Post #1792808

2026-04-28 19:11 UTC

For gardeners: tell me it’s ok to compost my old seeds. I know there’s a chance some may still be viable, but if it’s not from something I have no where else, chuck them. Right? And what’s the oldest seeds you’d still keep? 2-3 years? Depends more on what they are? How stored? It’s a bit out of hand here… #gardening

Replies (8)

@meraord@mastodonsweden.se 2026-04-28 19:14

@IcooIey Yep, agreed. You could always try to germinate them before throwing them away - put them in wet kitchen paper or toilet paper wrapped in plastic for a few days and see if they germinate.

Open ##1901849
@GPJohnston@mastodon.social 2026-04-28 19:14

@IcooIey I’ll often get zuchinni plants sprouting in the compost pile, from giant zuchinnis I’ve discarded. I’ll plant three year old seeds, I think the germination rate does decline though.

Open ##1901850
@Irisfreundin@troet.cafe 2026-04-28 19:17

@IcooIey My tomato and chili seeds are partly more than 10 years old. I keep them wrapped in kitchen paper in a box in the fridge. Beans and peas can also become so old without problems, just in paper or tea bags (those you buy empty in order to fill them yourself) in a book shelf in my bureau. The only seeds which loose their sprouting ability already after 2-3 years are lettuces.

Open ##1901851
@Broadfork@mastodon.green 2026-04-28 19:35

@IcooIey Swap them or give them away with the caveat about their age. Or do a bit of guerilla sowing somewhere. A lot of seeds are still viable long after the seed producers tell us they should be.

Open ##1901858
@lionelb@expressional.social 2026-04-28 19:35

@IcooIey The advantage of old seeds is that fewer will germinate, so you will have what you need, rather than 'eyes bigger than tummy'.

Open ##1901865
@richrollgardener@toot.wales 2026-04-28 19:47

@IcooIey I don't save many seeds myself but I agree with @Broadfork on giving away and/or guerilla sowing. As for putting in the compost, I think that would depend on what you use the compost for, due to the germination possibilities. 😀

Open ##1901866
@colo_lee@mstdn.social 2026-04-28 19:55

@IcooIey We run on a 3 year cycle for beans and peas: save, plant the next year, save a few as a backup for the following year, cook & eat any leftovers then. For commercial seeds, I compost them after 3 or 4 years, after buying replacements. Although usually, after 3 years, we've pretty much used up the seed packet. Sure, you can save some longer and get partial germination. But, for our process, it's a lot easier if most of them germinate since we tend to plant 1 or 2 per block / container.

Open ##1901868
@Nead@social.vivaldi.net 2026-04-28 20:20

@IcooIey I need to find a way to plant and cultivate pretzels.

Open ##1901890