Hallo everybody !
I have a question about seeds. I received a package of seeds from Lily auction and all of them appear soft to touch. I thought they should be hard. Do u think they are still viable ?
Anna

They should for sure be hard. Ive gotten soft seeds before, more so when they are bonus seeds. Alot of times the little shriveled seeds will sprout, but Ive never had a soft one do the same. Sometimes my pods at home, i get anxious and pick them a tad to early and they will be soft. Really makes me mad at myself.

You could always try one in moist paper towel and see if it sprouts. But I would contact the seller and see what they say. ~Jan

If they are soft, most likely they are no good.
They shouldn't of been shipped, contact seller and let them know you want a refund or replacement

I agree. Soft means they are on their way to rotting.

I took some seeds out of the fridge that had been there for 30 days and they were spongey. They were not like that when I put them in. They had been dried for 48 hours. I don't understand why they became spongey. Any one know the answer to that. They were not moldy at all.

I have noticed the same thing Hemlady, I figured the seeds were just bad even though the seemed firm when stored.
In the last few years I have added a piece of bleached printer paper with the seeds while storing them in the crisper, the paper will take on a pink/purple cast if any mold appears.
I check seeds every week or so.
The seeds get firm tested again when place in the auction bag, and one last time before I mail them out.
The two most important things for me as a seller, the seeds be true to the cross, and for the seeds to be of high quality.
Ed, auction ID "gramps"

great idea about the paper with bleach.

I agree with you totally Ed. I throw out many seeds after they have dried just because they have shriveled to the point of not looking viable. I also do a pinch test too. I would not send out the spongy seeds. I don't think that they are probably any good.

Hem
Don't you hate having to throw out those small dried seeds. I do it here too.
I did a test one year and found that a bunch of them germinated even though I didn't think they would.
But I won't sell them anyway.

Gardenglory
I was told that the bleach in the paper would help kill mold, I don't know if that is true but I did find that the paper would turn color if some of the seeds in bag go bad

Yes I hate throwing them out but you just don't know whether or not they are viable. Makes me mad that I start out with 20 seeds in a cross and end up with 15 after they have dried.