Hi, folks - just a reminder to our newer members - don't toss those old seeds! As my growing capacity is a lot more limited this year, I made a decision to plant some of my oldest seeds first. I didn't hold out much hope for the black turtle beans I acquired in a 2004 trade, but one has germinated! The rates of germination aren't as high, but I'm a person who only needs one plant of any variety to make it anyway (I can always save seeds for the following year).

I store my seeds in large plastic bins in a closet - nothing fancy, no special temperature controls - I do throw in the little silica packets that come in vitamins and shoeboxes etc., thinking that may help with moisture control (I don't know if it actually does, LOL).