In my part of the country, central Texas, the weather is beautiful, almost like spring again and it's time (past time?) to start a fall garden. Have been gardening a few years now but still call myself a novice. This might be a silly question to you experts, but I've always wondered if it makes any difference how old the seeds are when you plant. It's going to be mostly cole and leafy plants, collards, cabbage, turnips, etc. Anyone else in Texas doing a fall garden this year? What do you suggest to plant?

tia Autumn

-- Autumn in Tx (timberautumn@aol.com), October 09, 2001

Answers

If you keep your seeds in the fridge most should stay good for years. I'm still using seeds I bought in 1995, flowers and vegetable.

-- debra in ks (windfish@toto.net), October 09, 2001.

You can wrap a few seeds in wet paper towel (keep them moist) for a few days and see if they are going to germinate. It'll also give you an idea of the germination rate. The smaller the seed the better chance you have for germination. I keep all my seeds in the frig or freezer--most stay viable for years.

-- Sharon (spangenberg@hovac.com), October 09, 2001.

tia Autumn, do you have the clay soil? It can be somewhat of a trick to get some of those teeny tiny seeds up in it. Optimally, you want to put them out right before a storm comes in, when you might expect several days of rain. This late in the fall planting season(for CenTex), I wouldn't waste my time on seeds more than a year or two old.(they usually keep fine at room temp for that long, but then your germination rates will start going way down.)

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), October 10, 2001.

I keep my seeds inside sealed coffee cans in the refrigerator and have had no problems with old seeds, except for lettuce.

My folks live in central texas and I know my mom just put out cabbage, & brocolli Etc. I do think she used plants from the nursery which gives her a head start on timing.

I would say go for it and see what happens.

-- connie in nm (karrelandconnie@msn.com), October 10, 2001.

Give them a try! Corn is rarely viable for more than 1 year. I have had tomatoes reach 50% germination at 10 years! Those are guidelines - if you plant them and they don't germinate, you have lost little. GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), October 10, 2001.