20+ year old seeds, let's grow 'em

[NorthernOrganics]

Seeds soaked for about 24 hours in the h202 solution. I'm going to just plant them in good dirt like usual.
After the h202 soak they look lighter and in better shape than the ones that just soaked in a wet paper towel. The paper towel ones ended up with thin dark shells and eventually just turned to mush. These look healthier than they did before the h202 bath.

I planted them all in one little pot, we will see if any sprout. I dropped one on the carpet and was able to find it, that's the lucky one that's going to grow.

As far as I know, these seeds were stored in several layers of ziplock bags and then in an old film canister, and a prescription bottle. They were packed away under piles of stuff in my buddies house for the last 20 years, until he cleaned out his back room recently. Not sure on temperature, but they've been stored inside and sealed up. I'm hoping I get something.

 

[Goodshit97]

Seeds soaked for about 24 hours in the h202 solution. I'm going to just plant them in good dirt like usual.
After the h202 soak they look lighter and in better shape than the ones that just soaked in a wet paper towel. The paper towel ones ended up with thin dark shells and eventually just turned to mush. These look healthier than they did before the h202 bath. View attachment 1310396
I planted them all in one little pot, we will see if any sprout. I dropped one on the carpet and was able to find it, that's the lucky one that's going to grow.

As far as I know, these seeds were stored in several layers of ziplock bags and then in an old film canister, and a prescription bottle. They were packed away under piles of stuff in my buddies house for the last 20 years, until he cleaned out his back room recently. Not sure on temperature, but they've been stored inside and sealed up. I'm hoping I get something.

I hope you get something outta these dude thatd be awesome. I bet itd be killer stuff.

 

[NorthernOrganics]

Update...nothing popping up yet, as far as I can see.

 

[NorthernOrganics]

That right there, ladies and gentlemen, is a sprout from a 20+ year old bean. I'm going to go ahead and say it's the lucky one that I dropped on the carpet, but who knows...WHO CARES!?!?! I GOT ONE TO SPROUT!!!! Super excited for this.

 

[NorthernOrganics]

 

[BigSalty420]

Oh my god!!!! nice man!

 

[Leeboy]

This is exciting ! Please please please be skunky

 

[NorthernOrganics]

There are six beans in the pot, the lucky one is up. Let's hope the method works for all six.

 

[elusiveshame]

Looks like it’s coming in strong too.

If it’s a male plant, are you going to harvest the pollen?

 

[Brad104]

There are six beans in the pot, the lucky one is up. Let's hope the method works for all six. View attachment 1312328

I hope that it's not a male, unless you have two come up and then 1 boy and 1 girl comes up

 

[NorthernOrganics]

I've gone through 12 beans so far, six are in this cup and six are toast already. So far only one sprout. It is growing strong, I'll get a pic later. I'll definitely grow it out if it's a male. Would prefer a skunky potent female, but I'm just happy to be looking at a living specimen.

 

[NorthernOrganics]

 

[0ttomanfarmer]

good luck bro
hope this will give you some skunky weed as you desire ;)

 

[NorthernOrganics]

Update on the experiment.

 

[Ezdeezy89]

I'm mad excited to see how these turn out

 

[BigSalty420]

Definitely taking never give up to another level! Forgive me but I can't find it I know you said earlier. Did you scrape these seeds with sandpaper or did I imagine that?

 

[NorthernOrganics]

I tried the sandpaper on the first round of six after nothing happened in the paper towel. Most of the seed hulls were thin and brittle and just broke in half. This second round of six seeds I just soaked in a H2O2 solution which I assume may have helped to chemically scarify the surface, so no sandpaper on these six. Only one sprouted so far.

 

[elusiveshame]

I tried the sandpaper on the first round of six after nothing happened in the paper towel. Most of the seed hulls were thin and brittle and just broke in half. This second round of six seeds I just soaked in a H2O2 solution which I assume may have helped to chemically scarify the surface, so no sandpaper on these six. Only one sprouted so far.

Interesting on the sandpaper. What’s the idea behind it? Make the hull thinner so the taproot can break out easier?

I’m not convinced on h2o2 or any other method besides direct sow. (I’ve done paper towel germination with other things like pear and apple trees, but only because they required stratification).

That said, I hope more pop out for you! If the rest don’t pop out, you could always dig around the seeds and see if any have actually germinated. It’s possible they have but are growing out in a weird way.

 

[NorthernOrganics]

I've always had the best luck just sowing seeds in dirt. I tried a handful in a paper towel just so I could see , but nothing happened. I tried scuffing the seed hull to see if maybe they were still dry and hard, but most fell apart. Then they turned to mush, looked like white slime on the inside. So I soaked in h202 just to clean them really, then into dirt. One worked.

 

[Harpua88]

Hi everyone, this thread/topic has intrigued me. Just some thoughts.....

I'm glad something popped, just 1 is a win. Wouldn't it be awesome just to get 2 and if it's 1 male 1 female that's all you'd need to preserve the genetics.

In the first pic op had them in your hand. I don't know if it really matters but whatever human sweat, salts, oils, bacteria......might cause trouble, I would go as sterile as possible.

I would try a variety of methods to pop them, of course, it depends on how many you have......the fewer you have the fewer methods you can try. Certainly warm and wet seems right, maybe even a few degrees warmer than usual. I never heard of using peroxide, is that just for cleaning them or is there something more to it? But how about dusting with a fungicide? Anything that helps prevent mold, fungus, algae, whatever....

But I do like the concept of planting them directly in (disinfected/heat treated?) soil, probably after soaking......the seeds could possibly benefit from some nutrients, enzymes? Anything that gives them that little extra.......

Sanding, cracking.....boy do these things make me nervous. I'd like to buy 1000 hemp seeds just to practice these kinds of techniques, I don't feel comfortable at all trying these in precarious situations. I guess if a bunch of seeds haven't popped after X# of days, then maybe there's less to lose by going more aggressive.

If you do end up with only 1 (still....yay..), do you have any idea what it is? Maybe you mentionef it.....but what's your plan? Will you cross it? Any different strategy if it's M or F?

It'll sure be fun........30+ years ago I used to love to grow seeds from regs that friends got. Months later I would say "here's that stuff you gave me the seeds from", and it would always blow them away.