How do I know my seeds from last year are any good? Here is what you can do.

image from handyhometips.com 

      Good morning.  Woke up to a cloudy sky.  Maybe see some sun this afternoon.  Everything is white for sure with that 8 inches of snow.  Larry pushed snow all day and on the blacktop and road it has melted so that is good.  HOW about you?  Temperature at 8:30 AM is at 23 degrees with only a high of only 24.  Doesn’t look like it will warm up much.  Stay safe, stay warm.  You will see I am posting 2 today because of information I want to get out to you.  They both are on seed starting.  Have fun.
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How Long Do Seeds Last?
How to Know If Those Seeds Are Still Good  by Robin Sweetser
How long do garden seeds last? How do you tell if your old seeds are still good? Wintertime is the season when these questions matter. The gorgeous seed catalogs arrive in the mail, tempting you with beautiful photographs. But before you go crazy, it’s time to inventory your leftover seeds to avoid duplication and determine viability.
Seeds are living things and their viability is affected greatly by the way they are stored. Most experts agree on dark, cool, and dry conditions as being the best. We keep some of our seeds in the refrigerator, but most are in open boxes in the dining room—probably not the best location!
Some seeds inherently have a longer life expectancy than others, too. Most last for a couple of years if stored in a dry, cool place. Consult the table below to see how long some of the most common garden seeds last.
How Long Do Seeds Last?
Replace after…        Type of Seed
1 Year Lettuce, onions, parsley, parsnips, salsify
2 Years          Corn, leeks, okra, peppers
3 Years          Asparagus, beans, broccoli, carrots, celery, kohlrabi, peas, spinach
4 Years          Beets, brussels sprouts, cabbages, cauliflower, Swiss chard, eggplants, kale, pumpkins, radishes, rutabagas, squashes, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons
5 Years          Cucumbers, endive, cantaloupes
Seed viability data gathered via Colorado State University Extension.
How to Tell If Your Seeds Are Still Good
If I have a question about the viability of some seeds—such as those beans that someone gave me back in 2012—I will test a few. This is as easy as placing ten seeds on a damp paper towel, folding it up, and placing it in a plastic bag. Put the bag in a warm spot and check after a week or so to see if any of the seeds have sprouted.
If 2 out of 10 germinate, that means a germination rate of about 20%—not too good, so I would either plant more of them than usual or buy fresh seeds altogether.
If 8 out of 10 germinate, that means 80%—not bad at all, and I can likely get away with using them for another season.
Once you have determined what you need, you can shop with a clear plan in mind and be less likely to overbuy.
Have fun looking through this year’s seed catalogs and dreaming of your best garden ever. Summer is just a page away in a seed catalog!
Taken from https://www.almanac.com/how-long-do-seeds-last
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365