Ten Years Old Seeds Germinated

This is my second year at finally getting serious regarding: How to garden. Prior to that, every year I'd faithfully save seeds- You know, just in case. A few times I tried growing something and it didn't work out. But, still save seeds I purchased- Every year since late 90's. A couple of years ago, I picked up some seeds at an estate sale that were sealed in #10 cans. I'm thinking they were from 1999. All seeds, with the exception of the ones in the #10 can were kept temperature stable, likely between 40 and 70 degrees.

That's the back story.

This past spring, I planted some Carrots, Radish, and Peas from the number 10 can. The radish' germinated but since they were in the shade and I was moving that garden to a new site, they died off. The peas never germinated. A couple of the carrots sprouted and grew to a harvest-able size.

About 10 days ago I planted seeds from 2015: Asian Radish; Carrots; Broccoli; Spring Onions; Peas; Kholari, something like that; Cauliflower; Radish, red.  With the exception, so far of the peas, and cauliflower, everything has germinated and begun growing. They all look healthy.

I'll keep y'all posted on the progress.

So much depends on the way they're stored, and the plant they're from. I just tried planting some chick peas that I don't even know how old! I'll keep you posted also!

It helps to do a bit of research - some seeds respond well to pre-soaking, some it does more harm than good.

My important seeds I keep in the back of my fridge. It's amazing how long they'll last there. Seeds are *not* that cheap any more, so I both save my own favorites, and take good care of ones I buy or am given.

However, I have one friend that often gives me seeds - cheap seeds to start with, and then left where they can overheat, and I just find it frustrating. She seems to expect me to be happy to plant them in the hopes 1 or 2 will make it, but I have limited planting room and the sort of luck that if the seed is poor, 5 will come up too close together and the rest of the row will have none! Not to mention that the labelling is questionable... that bush squash I planted for her this year turned out to be a vining thing, so it was just luck that I planted it somewhere it could ramble!