Keep or throw last years unused seeds?

[Vmaas]

I am planning my garden for 2016 and getting ready to order my seeds. Should I use up seeds from last year or should I just throw them out?

[catgrass]

Heck, yeah, use them! Some seeds are viable for many years. Best kept in dry/cool place during the summer-but I have some from 3-4 years that I still plant. Germination may not be the best, but why waste them?

[jal_ut]

As catgrass says, plant them. Enjoy!

[Peter1142]

The only seeds from last year you shouldn't count on are alliums, unless they were exposed to moisture

[Allyn]

I keep my seeds in a zip-loc baggie in the refrigerator. They'll keep for years.

[jnunez918]

I have seeds that are years old. Is there a way of testing them? Like trying to sprout between 2 damp paper towels?

[rainbowgardener]

You can , but to me the easiest way is just to plant them and see what happens . If some don't come up , you can still re-plant with newer seed.

[NJ Bob]

I have seeds that are years old. Is there a way of testing them? Like trying to sprout between 2 damp paper towels?

Yes!

[Taiji]

I would say most of my garden each year comes from seeds that are at least a year old, sometimes older. If starting in grow cells or pots, I just plant some extra ones to insure that I get at least one sprout, then thin later by snipping off the unwanted ones at ground level. Same if planting outside, for example, instead of a couple of corn seeds together, maybe 3 or 4 seeds, then thinning to just one plant. Eventually, I do buy some new seeds though!

[Gary350]

I have several misc. seeds that are 3 to 8 years old, I planted some test seeds in flower pots a week ago and they are all coming up. The only seeds I will buy this year are blue lake bush beans.

[redneck647]

I have a lot of old seeds. I just plant a few extra in case they don't all sprout but they usually do just fine.