What is the oldest seed u have had success starting.

[conealot]

Quik question to all,

What is the oldest seed u have got to start/ grow ?????

(why i ask is, I found my old seed collection from the 80s- 90s. ( I got 8 seedlings to start from seeds labled 1992. see skunk picts in my album)

[DoctorWho]

I'm going to be doing a seed run using old seed stock because most of my seeds are all around 6-7 years old and the sprout rate dropped from 95% to around 80%.  Its not at really dangerous levels yet because I have enough seed to get the numbers I need for a good run but I know that my seeds are slowly dying so need to get on it sooner rather than later to preserve the genetics. I've read that if the seeds are well grown and stored in great conditions they can last an extremely long time, ie a ten year shelf life isn't uncommon and although the life expectancy can drastically reduce after a few years some strains can last much longer than others.  Miracles can also happen so seeds really should be kept indefinitely as you never know what will pop up until you try them

[nici]

5 years for me with about 40% that popped.... Mind you they weren't stored too well though

[pegz]

I read somewhere of seeds being germinated that were thousands of years old.

 

But yeah skunk from the early 90's, legendary lime green powerfulness.