A Simple Germination Test for Older Seeds
Use a damp paper towel and a counted sample to decide whether an old packet deserves tray space.
Why this label: Standard seed testing uses controlled moisture, temperature, time, and a counted sample to estimate germination percentage.
The paper-towel method
Count ten seeds for a scarce packet or twenty for a better estimate. Place them on a damp—not dripping—paper towel, fold it over, and put it in a loosely closed bag or container so it stays moist. Label the crop, variety, and date. Keep it near the recommended germination temperature for that species.
Check regularly and count seeds that produce a normal root. Use the expected germination range on the packet or a reliable crop guide; lettuce and beans do not share the same schedule. With ten seeds, seven normal sprouts suggests roughly 70% germination. A twenty-seed test makes each sprout worth five percentage points.
What to do with the result
Strong germination means the packet is probably worth using. A middling result can justify sowing more thickly. Very low or slow germination may cost more in tray space and uneven plants than replacing the seed—unless the variety is rare enough to preserve.
Record the test with the packet. That one note prevents repeating the same uncertainty next spring and is exactly the kind of small history SeedTracker is meant to preserve.
Sources
- Association of Official Seed Analysts principles for germination testing.
- Cooperative-extension home seed viability guidance.