I would think you would have at least some of them germinated in that amount of time. I have had older seeds take up to a month to come up but that was after some of them had already been up for a couple of weeks. I would be concerned if none of them were up in another week. It might be time then to go to plan B.

I should also add that I do the same as you and have them up high on a cabinet but no heat mat or anything.

I have a wide light fixture so I have put seed trays on top of the lights above where the ballasts are mounted until they sprout. I have to put an insulated layer down first (magazines, something to put a thin air layer, etc... just please be careful not to promote a fire hazard) because the fixtures will bring the soil temps to about 95 F without a buffer. When the soil temp is about 80, I know I have it about right. As soon as you see sprouts, just move the tray down. In the case you described, I wouldn't put old and new seeds in the same tray. The new seeds might sprout, and you'll take the trays off the heat too early for the older ones. Of course you could get a heat mat, but that's a financial issue and your discretion.

Trying to germinate at 62F probably is the reason for delayed germination. .

I sowed mine on 2/21/16 . 60% germinated in 4 days and the rest took 5 , 6 days.

I used a medical heat pad to maintain a soil temperature of about 80F at the bottom of cell.

Here is a chart showing germination time , for various vegetables at different temperatures.

You can see that @59/60F it takes about 14 day,

The optimum is 75F- 85F resulting in a 6 day germination.

Sey

PS: Out of 26 varieties :

One did not germinate ( Bad seeds ) : Got from trade.

Three germinated in 6 days.(poor quality seeds): one my own, other 2 from trade.

I was reading thru posts after I posted and saw your chart... I thought, YES! I need more bottom heat! Since I have NO germination at this point, I'm pretty sure my soil is too cold. I don't want to wait forever. :) I'll give it another week or so before I get annoyed. In the meantime, I'll be crankin up the heat on the little lovies! Thanks so much!

Cool Nitsua! I have some of those! Looks like I need to do a project.

Before I purchased a heat mat, I found that putting my tomato trays on the top of my wall heater--wrapped in clear baggies and with one of those silicone baking pads for insulation, worked beautifully. It sounds like you are heading in the direction of a bottom heat set-up. In the meantime you could try warming up the soil by watering the seeding soil with a tiny bit of warm water twice a day. I've done that too and it worked....

If you already have incandescent rope lights, the additional expense is quite minimal. Mine has an 18' rope light. The four 1 x 2's are about 40 inches long and create the channels for the rope light. You'll need something to mount it to and some inexpensive clips to secure the rope light.

Mine is the perfect size to provide bottom heat to two standard black trays.

Lcgrace Mahoney wrote: "I got 13 varieties of heirloom tomatoes from a trade (on another group)."

Which varieties specifically are you planting?

Some heirloom varieties either require light to germinate or germinate quicker when exposed to light. I know the "black cherry" tomatoes I grow won't germinate without light. They have to be surface sown, or often I will pre-sprout them in a wet coffee filter in a clear zip lock bag, hanging in a south facing window. As soon as I see green sprouts, I transplant them to cups or nursery pots.

I've had other varieties in the past that require light to germinate. Some pepper varieties are like that as well.

I took my trays out from under the lights upstairs, they just weren't warm enough... I've been carrying them from window to window since last night... making sure they get the light & the heat coming thru the house... and wouldn't you know... my 1st seedling popped this afternoon! I'm really thinking that's it! I'll have to be careful & try to keep them going with the warmth from the sun outside & putting them over the heat vents (without drying them out). I'm thinking "good" thoughts!

OK... it has been a little while since I posted. About a week ago & got a cardboard box from the garage, I put a string of Christmas icicle lights in the bottom, wrapped my trays in a clear plastic bag & put 2 trays on top. I have plugged them in every day... and unplugged for sleeping... they're definitely warm enough... definitely... so... I was excited 24 hrs after I turned them on, I got a sprout. That was a week ago. Since then, I've got 2 more sprouts... that's 3 seedlings out of 2 FULL trays. These seeds have been in very moist seed starting mix for prob a month. I need to get these seedlings under lights at this point. Should I transplant them? Maybe dig around & do some investigating to see if the seeds did "anything" at all? I have a just a few stray seeds from the trades.... I'm so disappointed! I was so excited to have 13 varieties of heirloom tomatoes! I researched them all, was all ready to expand my garden and now the only ones I have are Burpee hybrids that I bought at Walmart.

Your thoughts? Please? I really need to get some more planted asap if these are "bad".

Well, as you mention, there is a question of the viability of those seeds. However, there are a couple of things you can do...

In your update, you mentioned 'very moist'. That is a subjective
description, but if you got good germination with similar moisture levels
using the hybrid seeds (and if all other things were equal) then it's
not necessarily your technique.

First, use a thermometer. Usually I would suggest a soil thermometer, or at least one of those cheap analog meat thermometers (which is what I use,) but in this case, any regular thermometer should work.

Then, place the seeds between a layer of moist paper towels. Make sure the temps are 80 - 85 F (I like 80. It's 'warm enough' but doesn't push the limit if you leave them unattended for a while.) Don't let the seeds 'swim' in water, nor let the towels dry out. The towel technique allows visual inspection, and gives you the opportunity to immediately plant any that sprout, while giving less chance for molds, fungi, drying out.... etc. Some people prefer to start all their seeds using paper towels, and there are lots of variations (placing the towels between paper plates, in baggies to conserve moisture, etc...) I don't use it except when I want full control over the process, but yours seems the time to employ it. If you do put the towels in plastic baggies, you may not want to fully seal the bags. Oxygen is your friend. Older seeds often take longer to germinate, and thus will increase the opportunity of negating influences.

I second the towel technique suggestion. It has worked for me in the past with older seeds and I got good production in the end!

I'll try to germinate any remaining seeds tomorrow. My hybrid tomatoes (2 kinds) sprouted in about 3 days and didn't need any heat at all. These are definitely concerning... but germination in a paper towel is a very least a way to keep an eye on them all & not waste the soil & time. Thanks so much for your advice!! ............. and how about digging up the seed from the packet to see if anything has happened yet? I know... I'm prob pushing it. Annoyed. Would rather know now & then proceed with a new plan.

Lcgrace, are you asking whether you should dig the previously sown seeds that didn't sprout? It sounds like you are a bit anxious, but try to have patience. It's not unheard of for old seeds to take 3 weeks or longer to sprout. I would leave them be, keep them warm and moist, and you never know...

If you get some to germinate with the towels, then you can carefully dig the others up and see if any began to sprout.

Anxious & annoyed. :) Thanks for your thoughts!