How Old is too old for saving seeds

[domoarimato]

Dang I was sure that this thread was gonna suggest a cutoff for when old farts like me are SUPPOSED to stop saving seeds. Looks like I'll be stuck doing it now until I'm an even older fart.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by tantaw0

Craig I stared some seeds this year that were 6 years old. I planted 10 seeds and I was amazed that 9 of them germinated. I have actually started tomato seeds that were 10 years old and got 80% germination. I guess what I am trying to say is that I don't have a clue when tomato seeds are to old! I wish I could get my hands on some 12 or 15 year old seeds to see what the germination rate would be. That would be a fun project for an old man that has got nothing but time on his hands!

I've got lots and lots of seed for many different varieties that date back to 1991 if you want some.

My record is waking up 22 yo seed but the documented record is waking up 50 yo tomato seed.

It's too late this year to fool around with very old seed in terms of getting plants out there but if you just want to play, then please PM me about it.

[Tormato]

This thread reminds me to break out the Ace 55 (1965 seed), and see if it's still viable. Last year it germinated in 4 days.

Gary

[tantaw0]

Good evening. I just took a look at the the tomatoes you are starting and I must say I am impressed! I have been growing heirlooms for many years and you have some that I have NEVER heard of. I am realitivly new to this forum but if it is O.K. and you would like to, you have several varieties I would like to trade for. If you are interested I would like to have some of the following seeds.
Valencia-Wolford Wonder-Fritche-Holy Land Yellow-Una Hartsock, german Garden Time and Magellian Burgess Purple.
I have the seeds listed below that I can trand as well as many that are not listed. If you are interested in a trade please let me know.
Thanks!
Dave

Heirloom Tomato Seed Trade List
Mary Robinson’s German Bi-colored
Garden Peach
Cream Sausage
Hazelfield Farm
Black Cherry
Green Sausage
Hogsheart
Burbank
Reinhard’s Goldkrisch
Pink German Tree
Japanese Black Trifele
Thai Pink Egg
Nayogas Black
Tigerella
Black From Tula
German Red Strawberry
White Currant
Aunt Ruby’s German Green Cherry
Amana Orange
Atkinson
Ozark Pink
Black Prince
Costoluto Genovese
Winsall
Grace Lahman’s Pink
Brandywine Pink
Striped Roman
Old German
Great White
Omar’s Lebanese
Mini Orange
Brown Cherry
Uncle Mark Bagby’s
Roman Candle
Orange Banana
Henderson Pink
Floridade
Delicious
Rutgers
Beefsteak
Cherokee Purple
Flamingo
Emerald Green
Nyagous Black
Pineapple
Brimmer Pink
Egg Yolk
Black Prince
Tiny Tim

Originally Posted by nctomatoman

Here are the varieties I am going to start, with the age of the seed...this list may change once I start gathering the vials, since I may not have any seed left of some of these...but I have plenty of other old ones to substitute!

Persimmon 21
Czech's Excellent Yellow 21
Yellow Cherry 21
Ruby Gold 21
Pineapple 21
Sabre 20
Glesener 20
Valencia 20
Yellow Brimmer 20
Peron 20
Georgia Streak 19
Banana Legs 19
Old Brooks 19
Prudens Purple 19
Wolford Wonder 19
Tice's Yellow Better Boy 19
Anna Russian 19
Sutton 19
Hunt Family Favorite 19
German Garden Time 19
Holy Land Yellow 19
Viva 19
Lillian's Red Kansas Paste 19
Fritsche 19
Golden Oxheart 19
Firesteel 19
Goldie 19
Mortgage Lifter Pesta Strain 15
Tappy's Finest 19
Verna Orange 18
Giant Syrian 18
Burcham New Generation 18
Madara 18
Armenian 18
Transparent 18
Una Hartsock 18
Syrian Globe 18
Black Krim 18
Magellan Burgess Yellow 18
Belgiam 18Ma
Magellan Burgess Purple 18
Black 17
Aztec 17
McClintock 17
Marizol Gold 17
Marizol Purple 17
German Queen 17
Gogosha 17
Alyx Little Sun 17
Vermillion 17

[RonnyWil]

My grandmother was well into her 90's and she still saved seeds. I think you're never too old.

Sorry, I just had to do it after reading the title. Someone had to have wanted to answer it that way.

[Tormato]

Originally Posted by RonnyWil

My grandmother was well into her 90's and she still saved seeds. I think you're never too old.

Sorry, I just had to do it after reading the title. Someone had to have wanted to answer it that way.

Fair enough, in answering it that way.

But, if one is three days older than dirt, is that too old?

Trmat

[cottonpicker]

I have another question from the opposite end of the seedlife spectrum....
how early can seed be collected and still be viable from tomatoes not completely ripened? breaker stage or later??

[tantaw0]

I like to harvest my tomato seeds when the fruit is very ripe. My experience has been that the saved seeds do much better when harvested this way.