When to start older seed?
 

I just received 4 of Dr. Carolyn’s seed varieties from FarmerShawn. The oldest being 1994. Do you think I should start trying to germinate them now, being that they are old? I don’t usually plant out until 2nd to 3rd week of April.

1994 means 27 years old?! Yes, I would try now - I've had little success with seeds that are older than 16 years - it is very spotty, and often fails - but be patient.

I think it is a low probability of success but be prepared in case it does work.do you only have a few seeds? If you have a lot I would do a germination test but if not a lot of seeds, Personally, I think that while older seed can take longer to germinate, if you are successful the resulting plant (s) from old seed will be fragile and would benefit from optimizing the growing conditions early on for any seedling that may emerge.
Since live plants that will potentially provide seeds to save are likely the main goal, and since this is a special project not your regular garden tomatoes, I personally would wait unless you have a really good seedling growing set up and a greenhouse just to give them the best chance if something does germinate. If you can provide reliable good conditions for seedlings now until your planting date then I would say go for it otherwise I would wait.
My 2 cents
KarenO

Thank you. Looks like a lot of seeds in each packet. Not rare varieties. I’ll try a few different methods.

Well if they are common varieties and you have lots it really doesn’t matter. I presumed if trying to germinate 25+ year old seed they were something rare.
Best wishes with it
KarenO

I also want to germinate the 1994 seeds from Carolyn's legacy, which is managed by Shawn. Specifically, it is Re Umberto (King Humbert). I have always been interested in this tomato, but in 2015 I did not find anywhere that anyone would offer seeds. It's different today. But I want to try it. I wanted to wait for 2022, but I agree with Karen that I should try it sometime this late spring. There is always a place in the garden, for example among completely different plants.
Vladimír

Vladimir, Roi Humbert is accessible from the USDA GRIN database -

[url]https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1133536[/url]

It looks like it got into the collection i 1938.

This is the listing for King Humbert (which Carolyn and I both grew from USDA seed years ago))

[url]https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1094691[/url]

That picture is pretty accurate of what I got from the seed.

I'm with Craig on the 15-16 year thing, and then success is like 2-5%,
I do a germination test, and "transplant" those that offer a radicle, allowing an extra 25 days. Generally by day 20, those that WILL germinate have, and those that will not are going to be rotting.

Then there's a problem: what to do witn too-old seedlings until the weather is right. If they get to true leaf stage, I grow them on in individual pots under grow lights in a very cool area. Until Mid April, I can keep a small area around 50 degrees by letting a little outside air leak into a cabinet with the lights. I have held growth back to about 2" in 3 weeks that way. They're badly root bound, but that is easily addressed.

[QUOTE=eyolf;762139]I'm with Craig on the 15-16 year thing, and then success is like 2-5%,
I do a germination test, and "transplant" those that offer a radicle, allowing an extra 25 days. Generally by day 20, those that WILL germinate have, and those that will not are going to be rotting.

Then there's a problem: what to do witn too-old seedlings until the weather is right. If they get to true leaf stage, I grow them on in individual pots under grow lights in a very cool area. Until Mid April, I can keep a small area around 50 degrees by letting a little outside air leak into a cabinet with the lights. I have held growth back to about 2" in 3 weeks that way. They're badly root bound, but that is easily addressed.[/QUOTE]

Do you let the seeds germinate only in clean water or do you add some fertilizer? Do you treat the seed chemically because of possible diseases or to increase germination?
Vladimír