How to tell if seeds are Good or Bad? (aka Viable)

Color, Size, Texture etc...
Never Judge a book by its cover, however if you see any small white or pale-green colored seeds in your batch - toss them out. Or if you notice any holes in the seeds, hollow insides, or any seeds that are too soft (literally take one between your fingers and squeeze..a good mature seed will not crack...) These seeds are under-developed and were pulled from the plant too early. There is no way to germinate these seeds. However, some say that by first squeezing an under-developed seed and planting it with a mature seed it will temporarily give the good mature seed additional food helping it become stronger and speeding the Germination process.

Do A Germination Test Before Planting Old Seeds

If you have some leftover or older seeds and wonder whether or not they will still germinate and grow, you can find out for sure with a germination test. It’s better to test your seeds before planting than to waste time and effort planting seed that is no longer viable – and why purchase more seeds if those you already have are still good?

How to Set Up Easy Seed Germination Test

Pre-Soaking

Method 1 (Grandma's way):

1. Fill a mason jar about three-fourths full of water.
2. Pour seeds directly into the quart of water.
3. If the seeds sink to the bottom, they are good.
4. If the seeds float on the top, they shouldn't be used.

One way to test for signs of life is to pre-soak the seeds in distilled water. After about 24hrs the good seeds will sink and the bad ones will float. Those that float are sterile (contain no embryo and are therefore lighter); those that sink are likely to be viable.



Method 2 (An alternate method):

1. Moisten a paper towel thoroughly with water from the spray bottle.
2. Place a handful of seeds (ten or more) on the paper towel.
3. Fold the paper towel over a couple of times.
4. Moisten the towel again with the spray bottle.
5. Put the towel into a plastic bag and tie with a twist tie.
6. Put the plastic bag in a warm spot, such as on top of the refrigerator.
7. Every three to five days, check to see how many seeds have germinated.
8. If you have seven to eight germinated seeds, you have a good return.
9. Sow the seeds at a normal rate.
10. If five or less out of ten germinated, you probably need to buy new seeds.

Take a small sample of your seeds to test, maybe ten seeds or so from each batch. Slightly dampen a paper towel and place the sample seeds on it. Fold the barely damp paper towel it in half over the seeds. Enclose in plastic wrap or place inside a sealed plastic bag so it will stay damp. Label the package with seed name and date. Set the package in a relatively warm place (70 to 75 degrees) such as the top of your refrigerator or on a high shelf. Do not put it in direct sun. (Direct sun could cause it to overheat.)

How Long to Wait: Check Seeds Often

The seeds should absorb water and swell. Check daily for germination and to make sure the paper towel is still just barely damp.."almost dry". Mist it lightly if it begins to dry out.

Depending on which specific plant you are testing, the seeds may begin to sprout in a day or two or may take several weeks to begin. Usually the majority will sprout within a few days of each other. When germination stops and no more seeds have sprouted for several days, you will know what approximate germination rate to expect from that batch of seeds.

Source:
GARDENWEB.COM
HGTV:Wil they Germinate?