The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: nutterly_uts on February 21, 2015, 05:29:22 pm

Title: Seed Swap - What to look for ?
Post by: nutterly_uts on February 21, 2015, 05:29:22 pm
There is a seed swap on tomorrow here - I've never been to one  :excited:
Are there any recommendations on seeds to look for?
Title: Re: Seed Swap - What to look for ?
Post by: cloddopper on February 21, 2015, 08:37:38 pm
Where are you located ?

I guese the best i can offer is that the seeds should generally be free of any pod material , clean mould free & look fresh not several year old faded colours . I woild myself prefer the seeds to have an individual labels statingthe type of variety , the date it was harvested and th date it was packed   because fromthere you can work out the likley viability period that they will still germinate at over 70 % per sowing.

 thre are some briliant online charts that show all manner of seed viability listing , also the optimum germination temps givingnthe 5 of seed likely to germinate at that temp.

What ever you buy perhaps  sow 10 of each type of seeds on or between damp kitchen roll squares  laid on a Pyrex lid and place the dish over the top to make the germination chamber.  Multiply the number of germination's by ten to get your percentages .. if the seed are quality this % rate of germination should be close to the germination %'s suggested in the on line lists.
Title: Re: Seed Swap - What to look for ?
Post by: nutterly_uts on February 22, 2015, 09:55:14 am
Great tips thank you :) am in Jersey (currently)
Title: Re: Seed Swap - What to look for ?
Post by: cloddopper on February 22, 2015, 10:49:18 pm
Where are you located ?

I guess the best i can offer is that the seeds should generally be free of any pod material , clean mould free & look fresh not several year old faded colours . I would myself prefer the seeds to have an individual labels stating the type of variety , the date it was harvested and the date it was packed  , because from there you can work out the likely viability period that they will still germinate at over 70 % per sowing.

 There are some brliliant online charts that show all manner of seed viability listing , also the optimum germination temps giving the % of seed likely to germinate at that temp.

What ever you buy perhaps  sow 10 of each type of seeds on or between damp kitchen roll squares laid on a Pyrex lid and place the dish over the top to make the germination chamber.
 Multiply the number of germination's by ten to get your percentages .. if the seed are quality this % rate of germination should be close to the germination %'s suggested in the on line lists.