Category: Seed saving

Native to parts of Asia and Africa, the senna plant is highly valued for its medicinal properties, particularly its pods and leaves, which have been used for thousands of years as a natural laxative. Learning how to collect senna seeds is a rewarding process that allows you to propagate this useful herb right in your own garden.

While the dates on seed packets are more of a 'packed for' guideline than a true expiration date, seeds can and do lose their viability over time due to improper storage, age, and damage. Every gardener eventually faces the challenge of determining if their seed stock is still viable before planting, which can prevent wasted effort and disappointment. The good news is that several straightforward methods exist to test and confirm seed quality.

According to agricultural research, seed viability can vary widely depending on storage conditions, with some pumpkin seeds remaining viable for several years if stored properly. This means that knowing how to test pumpkin seeds before you plant or eat them can save you from wasted time and effort, ensuring a successful harvest or a delicious snack.

Grape seeds, much like many other perennial seeds, possess an innate dormancy period that must be broken to initiate germination. This is the key reason the question 'do grape seeds need to be refrigerated?' has a specific answer depending on your goal, as chilling the seeds mimics winter conditions and prepares them for sprouting.

While packaged foods degrade rapidly, the 'expiration date' on seed packets is more of a 'packed for' date, with many seeds remaining viable for several years after the designated year. The actual longevity of seeds after this date depends heavily on the specific seed type and how they were stored.