Leftover seed ok?

[Zag]

I have 1/2 a bag of corn,sunflower, buckwheat & sorghums leftover from last spring. They have been in my garage ever since. Are they ok to use?

[G-Man]

best do a germ test, grab 100 seeds put on top of a damp paper towel on a tray cover with another damp paper towel ..put someplace dark and warm..wait 3-7 days and keep damp..count how many seeds germinate..80 will be 80 % ect. most seed loses 10-30 % germ as year goes by if not stored in a dry cool place. if its below 75% you might consider seeding it heavier than recommended.. much below 50% the cost of ground prep will out weigh the benifit of bad seed.. use as bird food if uncoated or over seed and existing plot with it.

Edited April 5, 2014 by G-Man

[Zag]

Thanks gman. One of those deal where I set the bag on a shelf in the garage and forgot all about it. Ill give it a try.

[G-Man]

most habitat free corn is a year old when handed out to conservation groups..its usually around 85-90% germ.. yours will depend how it faired in your garage.. i keep my left over seed in a metal garbage can covered in my barn.. i lose a little germ but i am only planting for game anyway.

[BornToHunt]

I use old seed all the time here in my vegetable garden. Just have to plant more seeds as some wont sprout. The longer it sits the less will sprout.