A Seed's Life

(Page 3 of 6)

October/November 2000
by Kris Wetherbee  
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Also, tested seed need not be packaged immediately. Department of Agriculture guidelines demand only that seed be packaged within 18 months of germination testing if it is to be sold wholesale, and within 36 months if it is to be sold retail.

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What does all of this mean to you, the home gardener? Simply this: Even if seed meets federal germination standards, by the time it's packaged, purchased and planted in the ground, its viability may be reduced to zero, particularly if it was handled poorly or stored improperly following its last germination test, or if the seed was by then already nearing the end of its life.

Each seed has its own characteristic beauty, as shown by this colorful trio.

Such was the case with the onion seed I purchased many years ago from a new seed company. After planting large quantities of several varieties for our mar ket business, I watched as not one of the seeds germinated. The company did run germination tests once a year. But my order was placed in December and the seed I received had been packaged for that year, which meant it could have been packaged up to 11 months earlier - with germination tests done as much as a year before that. By the time I used the seed the following March, over two years may well have passed since it was last shown to be viable. Plus, the seed may already have been one or two years old before it was tested. No wonder none of the onions germinated!

By the way, add another point for yourself if you answered true for question #5. Flower seeds are exempt from federal germination standards and are regulated (loosely, if at all) by the states.

SELECTED SEED SUPPLIERS

There are many good seed companies out there, and by no means is this list all-inclusive. Following are simply a few seed suppliers that I've dealt with and have found to be quite reliable.

FEDCO SEEDS
PO Box 520 Waterville, ME 04903-0520 (207)873-7333

JOHNNY'S SELECTED SEEDS
Foss Hill Road Albion, ME 04910 (207)437-4395
www.johnnyseeds.com

PARK SEED CO.
1 Parkton Ave. Greenwood, SC 29647-0001
(800)845-3369
www.parkseed.com

PINETREE GARDEN SEEDS
Box 300 New Gloucester, ME 04260 (207) 926-3400 www.superseeds.com

SEED SAVERS EXCHANGE
3076 North Winn Road Decorah, IA 52101 (319)382-5990 www.seedsavers.org

TERRITORIAL SEED COMPANY
PO Box 157 Cottage Grove, OR 97424-0061 (541)942-9547 www.territorial-seed.com

TOTALLY TOMATOES
PO Box 1626 Augusta, GA 309031626 (803)663-0016 www.totallytomato.com

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