I agree with Elena, Jim and Rick. For me, germination is truly down to weather. This spring, ws'd items didn't sprout, but this fall they sure did. I have peppers growing in my flower gardens among other things. I've used old seed and fresh seed this year. Old was no worse than the commercial. Some of my commercial didn't work out. Most of everything I got from everyone this year sprouted. And if I only got one or two plants, like the black prince snaps, it has been enough to make seeds for next year. Not an abundance, but enough to make a patch now.
I do feel like storage plays a good part of seed viability with older seeds, but not to the point that I would turn down a 5 yr old seed. People have seeds that are from older times and are no longer offered anywhere. It would be nice to have an opportunity to acquire that. I will be honest, I would not track them down simply because I garden too much. My seasons are very long. But if I come across it, I'd not necessarily say no just because of age.
I do wish that I had not lost my pics of everything from you all that grew this year. They went when the computer blew up. Everything was really beautiful this year and I really did want to be able to show you all how it turned out. Well, there is always next year.
