You cant try pre-soaking a few in water with 1/3 peroxide, for about 6 -8 hours and then start germinating your method and see what happens. It is known that tomato seeds stay viable for decades.

Try to use warm water @ about 85-90F to soak in and soften the shell better. JUST MY OPINION>

Seysonn

Over on the Growing from Seed forum there is FAQ called "Baggie Method". Linked it below. It is a good way to do a germination test on seeds and will give you an excellent idea of the germination rate you'll get from yours.

If you have the planting container all ready to go you can just pop the ones that germinate right into it.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Baggie method FAQ

Ciao & welcome from lurkerland!

I'd follow what was recommened above by both who answered above, without the peroxide, though a brief soak (a minute) would likely help if they were exposed to spores, but not more if the seeds are old and weak, and I would presoak them in lukewarm distilled water 5 minutes beforehand (85 F) if doing that.

Haven't read the link but it must be good. For tomatoes, in the baggie I'd be care carefully keep it at about 80 F degrees for a few days till the first germinated, just in case there are temperature variations so you didn't cook them, and get the good ones out ASAP in case any disease started growing.

Also I'd use only pure distilled water from a jug from the supermarket. Once you get at least one seed, or however many plants you want, I'd save the seeds and hopefully harvest fruit from the starts and switch over to saving the seed from them as part of the miraculous renewal of life, and depending on the sentiment you could call the next generations the Costoluto Fiorentino bambinos and then, your Costoluto Fiorentino nipotes ;-)

Tante belle cose ;-)
PC

Tanto grazie a tutti! I have used the coffee filter method/baggie method for years but I really like the improvements mentioned. I've continued googling around and some have mentioned adding a weak fertilizer solution to the soak water. At least I have enough seeds to experiment with different methods.

Prego! ;-) Experimenting is the way to go. I wouldn't add the fertilizer since you are dealing with weak seeds and low concentrations like that won't make any difference in my personal experience (only), but will hasten microbes or algae to grow. The seed has all it needs and is drawing from its small reserve until it can raise its seed leaves and grow a fully functional root anyway. One thing I would do, if you have 100 seeds for example, is put just two or three seeds in several small baggies instead using larger amounts. That's not only to conserve seeds but also to minimize contamination.

I'd expect most to take a long time to wake up and some might start to decompose (unless sterilized, but sterilization might also weaken them), so that is how I'd negotiate with the older seeds... Please let us know how it goes!

Saluti!

Last year I found some old tomato seeds that had been forgotten in the garage for at least 10 years... not ideal storage conditions. I figured I might have luck getting a few scraggly seedlings to grow, so I dumped all the seeds into a single 4" pot. I'm convinced I had 120% germination rate. LOL!

I think that 'special' seeds sense fear. :O)

I've sprouted some fairly old seed also. I usually soak it overnight in a cup of warm water and a drop of liquid houseplant food.

Here's one old thread. I'd follow carolyn's suggestions.

Under decent storage conditions, 2001 would not seem too old for success.

I have found older seeds often take longer to germinate. Carolyn's suggestion to not give up even after waiting a month is a good one for a variety you value. I've waited that long and even longer and eventually ended up with sprouts and good plants.

Wishing you success with your less than ideal stored ones.

Here is a link that might be useful: Germinating old tomato seed

I have an article on this page that covers waking up old seed. It is the last article on the page.

http://www.selectedplants.com/seedlings.htm