How To Test Seed Viability

Seeds do have an expiration date but how do you know if your seeds are still good? Do your own at home seed viability test!

Seed packets usually have a sell or use by date on them letting you know when to use the seeds, but sometimes I don't remember when I bought the seeds.

That is when it is really great to do a seed viability test. Instead of planting seeds that may not grow you can know if your seeds are good before you plant them.

These tests are also great for your own saved seeds to see germination rates and make sure that your seeds will grow.

How To Test A Seed's Viability

This specific seed test that I do tests whether your seeds sprout or not. Here are the steps I take to test my seed's viability.

Step 1: Get Your Seeds

You first need to get all the seeds you want to test. Next make sure you have at least 10 seeds that you don't mind using for the test.

A sample of ten seeds is the perfect amount to test viability. This also makes it easy to calculate the percentage of germination.

Step 2: Get Your Supplies

Now you need to get the supplies for sprouting the seeds. Here are some things you will need to test your seeds.

Sealed Container (like a mason jar, plastic bag, etc.)
Paper Towels
Water

You will also need a room temperature area that does not get direct sunlight.

Step 3: Testing Your Seeds

Now that you have everything you can test your seeds. Start by dampening a paper towel with room temperature water.

Once these paper towels are wet you can squeeze most of the water out of them so that they are just damp.

Next lay the paper towel out flat so you can place your seeds on it. Space your seeds out on the paper towel in a straight row.

Roll the paper towel up tightly and carefully so that your seeds stay in their spots. This creates the perfect conditions for your seeds to sprout.

You can now place this rolled paper towel in your sealed container.

You will now need to wait 7-14 days for your seeds to sprout.

Step 4: Reading The Results

After a week or two you can check on your seeds to see if they have sprouted. Carefully roll out your paper towel and inspect your seeds.

Some of the seeds may be fully sprouted while others may just be emerging. Count how many seeds show signs of life (like roots and shoots) and how many don't.

As you can see from the picture 9 of my 10 okra seeds sprouted so my seeds have a 90% germination rate!

As long as 50% of the seeds have sprouted I will use the packet for planting. It is really up to you if you want to plant those seeds, but this test lets you know how good the seeds are.

If none of the seeds sprouted you can give them more time or just dispose of the packet. Sometimes it is best to just get rid of those old seeds.

Normally my homegrown seeds have a 90-100% germination rate when they are fresh. I like to test my own saved seeds to keep track of their germination rates.