From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Grittyville, WA

Guess how many will sprout?

Just for fun I am starting all 19 seeds that I have that are 15 years or older (the oldest are 18 years old).

Make your guess like X/19.

Winner gets a 2020 Paton, or whatever else I've got that I am willing to part with ;)

Just for fun! They refrigerated for a few years but that may not have helped much at all, we'll see.

3/23/2026 3:42:38 PM

Damariscotta, Maine

8 will sprout is my guess.

3/23/2026 4:00:33 PM

Nova Scotia

going with lucky 7

3/23/2026 4:33:05 PM

9

3/23/2026 4:41:40 PM

New England

3/19 is my guess :/

3/23/2026 5:10:30 PM

50 Acres

11/19 sprouts

3/23/2026 6:19:46 PM

C N Y

19/19. eg

3/23/2026 7:02:08 PM

Arlington, MN

14 is my guess

3/23/2026 8:00:22 PM

Putnam Ct.

13 is my guess

3/23/2026 8:46:45 PM

Connecticut, USA

10/19

3/23/2026 9:08:29 PM

Ironton, ohio

I'll guess 12

3/23/2026 9:42:29 PM

Anchorage Alaska

4

3/23/2026 10:33:57 PM

Grittyville, WA

I'll give them about 10 days to sprout then do a tally. Or maybe longer but not longer than a couple weeks.

3/24/2026 12:41:24 AM

Bethlehem CT

the old ones are often really slow to germinate!!

3/24/2026 6:46:19 AM

Bethlehem CT

5/19

3/24/2026 6:46:28 AM

Germany

Two guesses from my end: 3/19 that will sprout in such a way that they are able to produce a (more or less) useful seedling, and a total of 7/19 that will at least expose a root tip (including those buggers that would eventually die of weakness etc. even before growing a root of decent length)

3/24/2026 7:30:01 AM

Jericho Vermont

2/19

3/24/2026 7:31:18 AM

Central NY

7./19

3/24/2026 7:42:17 AM

Alex, IN

5/19

3/24/2026 7:48:40 AM

Topsfield, MA

6/19

3/24/2026 8:21:25 AM

Centennial Colorado

5/19

3/24/2026 10:02:39 AM

Grittyville, WA

I need someone cynical to guess 0/19. But I do hope you guys are right.

3/24/2026 11:43:02 AM

Western NY

1/19

3/24/2026 3:05:26 PM

Australia [email protected]

14 out of 19 to sprout

3/24/2026 3:48:47 PM

France

5/19

3/24/2026 6:22:56 PM

aurora, IL

I think zero might sprout, but I hope some will. I am trying to sprout some of my old seeds that are about 8 years, but no success so far.

3/24/2026 11:03:05 PM

Sault Ste Marie, MI 49783

4/19

3/25/2026 12:00:35 PM

Lake Oswego, OR

12 of 19

3/25/2026 3:18:50 PM

Grittyville, WA

Is that an official guess Christopher?

I'll put you down for
0/19 I have a hunch that it's actually not a bad guess.

3/25/2026 3:54:04 PM

Grittyville, WA

& Good luck with the 8 year old seeds I've got a batch of those too, will see how they go!

3/25/2026 3:55:24 PM

aurora, IL

Yes, 0/19 is my guess. So far all I get out of my old seeds that I have tested is they swell from being soaked in water for about an hour and filed their edges. I tried twice using the paper towel method once using 3% hydrogen peroxide, but after a couple days the seeds still start to mold.

3/25/2026 9:36:51 PM

C N Y

Christopher24, see this fun method, all of it and still use heat;
They are 2014 seeds and I'm testing currently for improvements.
https://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=351598
Literally, no pressure, lol---eric g

[Last edit: 03/25/26 11:12:23 PM]

3/25/2026 11:10:52 PM

Grittyville, WA

Christopher- I think they may need to have their paper towel changed out and maybe re-rinse every day or two to prevent mold. Rot is definitely the enemy of weaker older seeds.

3/26/2026 12:19:56 AM

Princeville, IL

6/19

[Last edit: 03/26/26 8:18:07 AM]

3/26/2026 8:17:26 AM

Grittyville, WA

Even if they're kept free of rot, many will simply not be alive anymore.

3/26/2026 10:50:45 AM

Napa, Ca.

15/19

3/26/2026 7:21:44 PM

Grittyville, WA

4 have sprouted so far. Interestingly, of those that sprouted 3 were 2008 seeds (the oldest ones) one was a 2011 seed. Will post again on Friday.

3/31/2026 6:32:29 PM

New England

Darn I'm out

4/2/2026 12:35:26 AM

aurora, IL

Ok, I will keep trying to get my old seeds to sprout.

4/2/2026 6:37:34 PM

aurora, IL

Trying to sprout seeds from my 438 Chandler 15 (Terminator) and 417 Chandler 16(Scarface) as potential crosses for my 1481 Bayuk 23. Using three seeds each in their own sandwich bag in a moistened paper towel with the air sucked out with a straw. Placed on a heat mat at 85F. Will change the paper towel every day or so.

4/3/2026 9:38:09 PM