A Quick Question Concerning Old Seeds

mayan · 11-04-2009, 06:38 AM

If one successfully pops an old seed (six or seven years old), is there any reason to believe that the plant itself will not be as healthy or as vital? Or perhaps more subject to mutation? Or...once you get the seed to pop, it's just like any other seed? Naturally, I'd like the answer to be the latter.but what say this august group? (I have some old BOG and Spice of Life seeds that I'm considering making a run at to see if they are still viable.)

(If I've asked this question before...I'm sorry, I can't find the answer...Or forgot it. Friggin' stoners!!!)

**EZMark** · 11-04-2009, 07:46 AM

Sounds like some good genitics Mayan,
IF you can get em above the ground the plants will be the same quality. They might need a bit of scuffing as the shells would be very hard and dry after that long.

I also would use some H2O2 in a soaking cup for a day.

countyspud · 11-04-2009, 08:11 AM

Mayan! Grower extraordinaire!

Once they pop, I think you have no higher a risk of a mutant than you would with a new seed.

It's getting them to pop that is the tricky part. To help old seeds along, rub them with a piece of sandpaper to thin out their outer shell so they don't have to work as hard to break through.

Plus because they're old and have an increased chance having mold or fungus on the outside, I think a pre dip in a 5% bleach solution (1 part bleach, 19 parts water) followed by two rinses would be smart too.

Another option to strongly consider is pre germing them by soaking in a weak nute solution high in N (like seaweed emulsion, 1TBS per gallon of RO water) will definitely increase germ rates for old seeds sometimes by as much as 40%.
Good luck Mayan. Very interested to see how these seeds turn out.
Spud,

mayan · 11-04-2009, 08:23 AM

Mucho gracias, my friends. Thanks!

Daddy-O · 11-04-2009, 08:39 AM

I've got a mason jar of mixed bagseed in my cupboard that's anywhere up to maybe 10 years old. Sandpaper/scuffing seeds scares me so for my current grow I just soaked them in a glass of water for 24 hours until they all sank and then put them on a damp paper towel in a baggie. 5 out of 5 popped tap roots within 24 hours but I killed one while planting. Next time I'm going straight from the water to soil or possibly rapid rooter plugs.

No deformities for me yet, although one of my plants is stretching like a weed!

https://www.gardenscure.com/420/grow...r-stretch.html

mayan · 11-04-2009, 10:44 AM

Hey, thanks man. Great news on your success with the seeds. I figure it's a way of continuing genetic diversity by bringing these old school genetics back into existence (although I don't breed nor am I doing very much cloning...still!)

Yeah...I've become a proponent of just dropping the seeds directly in Rapid Rooters. Saves wear and tear and since I got rid of my big monitor, I lost my favorite low heat source.

old_greg · 11-04-2009, 10:59 AM

Do sound like some good genetics man!! Might want to consider a seed breed or leave that last little bud or 2 a few weeks past ripe to try and make some seeds.

You can scuff em easy by taking an old pill bottle and cutting a piece of 150 grit sand paper short enough to fit into the bottle, but long enough to make a full loop of the inside, abrasive side in. drop the beans in, shake them around in the bottle for a minute.

Good luck!!

Futuregrower · 11-04-2009, 11:36 AM

Go for it! worst case, you don't pop any, in which case you know. They'll only get older and staler......

I have 100% germ rates, given seeds that are not white but are mature, and I just put 'em in Rockwool cubes, soaked with 1/10th to 1/8th teaspoon of GH micro/bloom per gallon of tap water, and let 'em rip. Cover the hole w/a pc. of rockwool, it helps shed light.

But once they come up, they'll probably be fine.

Oh, and don't give up- I've heard of people getting sprouts 2 weeks after all the other seeds sprouted!

Good luck with the grow!

mayan · 11-04-2009, 01:13 PM

Yes yes yes! I'm just planning/scheming what I'll do for my second quarter grow...Go with the viable? Or not? My wife has, in her infinite mercy, saved me from Overgrow Strain-whore Syndrome (look it up), by telling me that she would be more comfortable with only four plants a go. I'm appreciative as it is MUCH more manageable than my previous ganjapaloozas of nine (and up) plants crammed into a 2X3 space. OTOH, I have to be very discerning with what I'm growing - not a lot of room for error. But...yep, maybe I'll go with the BOG medley and Breeder Steve tandem next time out.

Old-Greg...Great tip, for those of us who flunked shop class. I always pictured scuffing as requiring protective goggles and microrobotic nanotech equipment.

sticky_bud · 11-08-2009, 11:17 PM

I've seen some 20+ yr old seeds sprout and grow just fine. shitty germ rates were seen but once they sprouted were strong as if they were feshly made beans....

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