3-16-2026 9:50pm

Bad Seeds

Beth Callahan Editor

Photos and story courtesy of -Leslie R. Dye, MD, FWCPDOH

“According to the World Conservation Union, invasive alien species are the second most significant threat to biodiversity, after habitat loss.”

How to test your seeds

A simple germination test can determine if seeds (particularly seeds packets from an earlier season) will be good for planting. Every year that a seed ages results in a lower germination rate, but some seeds may last more than one year (lettuce seeds often last 3 years).

Test larger seeds by placing them in a glass of warm water. If the seeds are floating after about 15 minutes, they probably will not sprout.

For smaller seeds (tend to float in a glass of warm water regardless)

Dampen a paper towel and place about 10 seeds in a fold, then place in a Ziplock bag.
Check on the bag daily to make sure the towel stays moist.
Depending on the species, it may take a few days to a couple of weeks.
If seeds sprout (unless hybrids), they should be good for planting.
The same test can be done using sand in a shallow container instead of a bag, if you want to transplant the sprouts into soil.

Seed label terminology

It is also important to understand the terminology when purchasing seeds:

Non-GMO: seeds have not been engineered genetically
Heirloom: seeds that have been saved and passed down from one generation of small and local farmers to the next without any modification. Technically, heirloom varieties must have been passed down for at least 50 years.
Organic: seeds have been harvested from plants grown without synthetic fertilizers, genetic engineering, pesticides, or irradiation.
Open-pollinated: seeds from plants that have been pollinated by insects, wind, birds, humans, or other natural methods.
Hybrid: seeds from plants that have been cross-pollinated with different-but-related plants over several generations.

Look for companies that clearly label their varietals and if you are growing a non-GMO garden, find those who have signed the Safe Seed Pledge, a commitment by seed companies to not knowingly buy, sell, or trade genetically engineered (GE) seeds.