Viability of annual seeds.

[aykhan]

We all know if we buy seeds in bulk they end up being much cheaper. However, the problem is if you buy more seeds than you need for the season they might not be viable next year. Can someone tell how long various annual plant seeds are viable for eg zinnia, petunia, phlox, nasturtium, sunflower, poppy, wildflowers etc

[Syed Adnan]

Zinnia, Anterhiniums, Poppy, Sweet Peas, Hollihox i have sprouted successfully for 2 years, same with many vegetable seeds, but air tight enclosure is must.

I have a serious doubt on Channa Din's seeds whihc most of them iam not able to sprout even new, does any one else ahs the same issue ?

[AhmadIrfan]

Yes they do not provide good quality of seeds and sometimes wrong varieties only the rananculus corns were good quality this season

[mirafzalkhan]

Good seed companies mention the expiry date on packets & the seeds are viable during the mentioned period provided if stored properly. We can’t say any things about the seeds where expiry is not mentioned because we don’t know how much old they are when come to us.
There is no fixed rule to all type of seeds because some germinate best when sowed fresh but most type of plant seeds don’t germinate when sowed fresh because these seeds need some shelf life to overcome the inhibitor present in the seed which destroy over time, some species needs few weeks, some needs three or six months & some need even 3 years. Still there is lot of research work required on seed germination to discover all perimeters of seed species. Till date the best source of information on the germination of seeds is 'Seed Germination, Theory and Practice' by Norm Deno. This book is basically a research manual describing 4000 species.

You can download the book in PDF format from the USDA National Agriculture Library.

Seed Germination: Theory and Practice
http://hdl.handle.net/10113/41278

First Supplement to Seed Germination: Theory and Practice
http://hdl.handle.net/10113/41279

Second Supplement to Seed Germination: Theory and Practice
http://hdl.handle.net/10113/41277

[aykhan]

Thanks Mir saheb!

[khabbab]

Thank you Mir Sb, very handy resource, this book is.