How to sprout old pepper seeds?

[MsCowpea]

I found 2 really OLD OLD jars of scotch bonnets seeds. I didn’t think I had any. One jar, lots of seeds, the other just a few. I know what they say about old tomato seeds —is it the same? I am no good at sprouting old seeds—I tried wIth these when they weren’t so old. Zero success.
And how old is too old? These may be 6 to 10 years old??? No date and yes, I know I am an idiot. I am labeling challenged. I assume these are lost forever? I also found a jar marked red NYC (New York city ) Oct 14 and a jar marked yellow NYC (Oct. 14). I have ‘new’ seeds on a paper plate but they aren’t the greatest—-peppers are small - (these are what I have growing now.) No idea where they came from-Maybe from a bush of mine or those NYC seeds?

[Nan6b]

Well, you can certainly try. If you get anything to sprout, report back on what you did/

Use a lot of seeds. Keep the planting warm & humid (I use Saran Wrap until something sprouts). WAIT A LONG TIME: 6 months, watering as needed.

For tomatoes, they say soak them in water with a pinch of the blue Miracle Grow fertilizer. I think it's 24 hours. I have no idea if this would work for pepper seeds. Peppers seem to want a lot of heat to grow, so plant in a warm place.

You could also try several different methods. Take most of the seeds from the jar with a lot of seeds. Divide them into groups:
1. soak in plain water 24 hours, then plant.
2. soak in Miracle Grow water 24 hours, then plant.
3. soak for 4 hours, then plant.
4. don't soak, just plant
5. any other conditions you can think of

Label each condition well. Use a lot of seeds. Keep the planting warm & humid (I use Saran Wrap until something sprouts). WAIT A LONG TIME: 6 months, watering as needed.

If I was desperate, I think I'd try the option of exposing seeds to several conditions. The waiting 6 months is necessary.

[pondgardener]

[mention]MsCowpea[/mention]
Have you tried bottom heat, such as with a heating mat?

[goodloe]

I've read that a 24 hr soak in a .15% hydrogen peroxide (h2o2) solution will help "re-oxygenate" the seed coats of old seeds, and improve germination. About 5 tsp of over-the-counter h2o2 (3%), added to 16 oz of water...None of my seeds are very old yet, so I can't vouch for this method....

[rdback]

Hi MsCowpea.

First off, a dead seed is just that – dead. No matter what shenanigans you try, the seeds will not sprout.

Having said that, trying to revive old seeds is FUN and can be rewarding! It's all about soaks and media. Here's what I've used, with some success, over the years..

Soaks:
Hydrogen Peroxide
Gibberellic acid
Willow bark tea

Seed starting media:
Paper towel
potting mix
Rockwool cubes

With your seeds, I'd probably try ALL of them, and cross my fingers lol.

If you'd like, I'd be happy to try and sprout some of your SB's for you. If successful, I'll send the seedlings back to you once they're old enough to travel.

Just let me know if you're interested.

[MsCowpea]

rdback, See PM . Thank you. But any sprouted seedlings would be yours to grow and keep. Hopefully, then you could save seeds. If you got an extra plant you could spare I would pay ALL the shipping to get one sent back to me. But I am very afraid that what you said, dead is dead , applies to these.

[Shule]

Tomato seeds are supposed to last a bit longer than pepper seeds. I'm not sure how long pepper seeds last in practice, but it's probably somewhat longer than seed vendors say.

[MsCowpea]

rdback, please send address via PM. Thanks

[rdback]

rdback, please send address via PM. Thanks

Done!

[MikeUSMC]

You can also try to scarify the seed coat, and soften them up a bit, by shaking the seeds up in an medicine bottle (or jar, or whatever) with some fine grit sandpaper. I usually do this to older seeds before I do an overnight soak in a hydrogen peroxide solution

[Nan6b]

Do you think pepper seeds could withstand sandpaper?

[MikeUSMC]

Do you think pepper seeds could withstand sandpaper?

Yup. I do it every year

Just make sure it's a fine grit (higher number!). I usually use 150 grit or higher


To be clear: I mean shaking them up (by hand) in a pill bottle, NOT running pepper seeds through an electric belt sander!

[Nan6b]

Did you see what asmx92 just posted? Sprouting 11 year old pepper seeds!
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=221#p5606

[MsCowpea]

NaN, thanks so much and I have the guano to do it tonight. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[TheDante]

NaN, thanks so much and I have the guano to do it tonight. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

or even this Elaine!

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=187&start=60#p5215

I dare ya!

[MsCowpea]

OK, I have some seed soaking away in bat guano. Husband will contribute fresh morning pee ( thanks Karen) .

And then I ran across this:

https://tgrc.ucdavis.edu/seed_germ.asp

This is from TGRC (Tomato Genetic Resource Center).
They maintain genetic material of wild tomato species for research

This is how they germinate difficult species and old seed as well.

Talks about bleach soak and scarification. Might be useful for old pepper seeds???

[TheDante]

Husband will contribute fresh morning pee ( thanks Karen) .

Would sooooooooooooooo love to know the results for this! Been told too, the taller the contributor is, the better!

[MsCowpea]

He’s 6’4. 70 years old but no telling what the cocktail of drugs and numerous vitamins he takes will do. May work miracles and I can sell it on eBay.

[TheDante]

He’s 6’4. 70 years old but no telling what the cocktail of drugs and numerous vitamins he takes will do. May work miracles and I can sell it on eBay.

No way! Your hubby is as tall as mine! I reckon 193cm is also 6´4!

oh wow! 70! No way! I bet you can´t keep up with him or is it the other way around or both!

Ha! Elixir potion! ^-^

I really do wonder about the age group of our forum... I am constantly surprised.

Which maybe perhaps makes me and the hubby ´chickadees´ of the flock?

The hubby is 30 years younger… and I am ermmmm… ahem ´older´ but I am always accused of still being like a child which he so adores and never ever wanting to ´grow up´

[MissS]

A Cougar growing lettuce. Who would have guessed?