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Seed age, viability & plant quality

DrMacDrMac Posts: 23
in Plants
As we all know, seed viability reduces with age, but what about resulting plant quality?
Is the plant that germinates from a fresh seed better than one germinating from an old seed?
I would expect a fresh (strong) seed to produce a better plant on the basis that with older seed the start up fuel within the seed will possibly have reduced.
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Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Not always. viable seeds have been found in the tombs of the Pharaohs.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    It depends on storage conditions, mainly temperature and humidity levels for the seed to do well.  A fresh seed stored in poor conditions won't grow as well as an older seed stored in better conditions.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    in the time capsule hidden in the stone wall I had built in my garden recently are some vacuum packed wildflower seeds from Kew Gardens with a challenge to the future discoverer - maybe 100+ years down the line - to try to germinate them.
    Rutland, England
  • DrMacDrMac Posts: 23
    Thanks Plantminded. 
    Bencotto - I'm afraid I can't wait that long for an answer. I start sowing next month. (Interesting use of a time capsule though).
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    I have shown from new packets and have had nil germination. Then showing the same seeds from an old packet resulted in good germination and a great harvest. They were sown in the same type of compost and the same environment. Some older seeds (eg black radish) didn't do well but I hate throwing things out so always give them a chance.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Tomato seed lasts for years and years  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Depends on the plant.  I've noticed differences in viabilty, but nevr any affect on seedling vigour.

    It sounds like your question was for interest only.  Let us know your results in due course. 
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I never thought about it that Sometimes the germination rate is less in the 2nd and subsequent years for some seeds (depends on variety, tomatoes seem to be totally unaffected), but I haven't noticed any difference in the vigour of the ones that do germinate.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    I found that old seed has reduced germination and some seedlings struggle but all of those that germinate and start to grow normally do just as well as fresh seeds.
  • SYinUSASYinUSA Posts: 243
    https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/120221-oldest-seeds-regenerated-plants-science
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