If you save seeds, you might wonder whether those from last year are still viable. A quick and easy pre-season seed germination test can answer that question. Much depends on how the seeds were ...

Some seed corn can germinate and thrive in cold, wet spring soils. Some can’t. The challenge is to know, before you plant, which seed has a high enough germination rate to handle harsh weather ...

Have you ever found a packet of seeds lying around and wondered if you could grow them? Every year when I get ready to start seeds, I inevitably find a half-full packet or a packet I forgot to plant ...

A perfect stand sets the stage for high ear count at harvest. Knowing the quality of your seed lets you avoid or manage potential stand problems. “Most tags list the warm germination rating, but few ...

Last week, I discussed the staples of seed starting — soil, containers and such. However, equally important is the quality of your seed. Old seed, poorly stored or poorly harvested seed will adversely ...

Several gardeners mentioned to me recently that they had some flower and vegetable seed which was several years old and they wondered if it was still good. One person said that in a column a year or ...

A simple test will tell you if your seeds are likely to make an appearance in the garden this spring. (Samuel Goldstein) Will they or won't they? That's the perennial question when you nestle seeds ...

Annals of Botany, Vol. 101, No. 4 (March 2008), pp. 541-548 (8 pages) • Background and Aims Plant functional trait responses to processes such as grassland management have been analysed frequently; ...

Question: Before I buy new seeds for my garden, is there some way I can test my seeds from last year to see if they are still good? Answer: Yes, there is a simple way to test all your old seeds to see ...