Now it is the right time to get seeds you need for the next season. Which seeds retain their ability to germinate for long time?

One of the most important winter tasks include the need to select specific seeds of different crops that you wish to plant. It pays to be prepared for the moment when the time is right and you need to sow. You know that each plant has a different germination rate and you need to take it into account. A good idea is to separate plants into groups of seeds that have similar germination rate.

Aromatic herbs with low germination rate

Certain types of vegetables and aromatic herbs will only retain their ability to germinate for a short time so you need to take that into account too. Let us mention few:

• leek,
• parsnip,
• black root,
• onions,
• dill,
• satureja
• various spicy herbs

Photo: Pixabay

Standard ability to germinate – 2 to 3 years

Many plants can maintain their ability to germinate for 2 to 3 years. These mainly include:

• beets,
• tomatoes,
• kohlrabi,
• radishes
• and others

For example, various pumpkins can retain the ability for up to 6 years as seen on the picture below.

Photo: Radek Štěpán

Sorting and checking seeds is important

There are many types of vegetables that can maintain their ability to germinate for a very long time. If you store seeds well, you can use your stock for the next season easily. Do not store seeds in a warm environment with excessive humidity. For example sealed glass jars are ideal for storage. Temperature in the storage area should not exceed 12 degrees Celsius. If you have older seeds, you should perform a germination test before sowing. Seeds with less than 50% germination rate should not be used. If you still want to try, expect that many plants will not come out.

Preview photo: Pixabay