From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Grittyville, WA

Guess how many will sprout?

Just for fun I am starting all 19 seeds that I have that are 15 years or older (the oldest are 18 years old).

Make your guess like X/19.

Winner gets a 2020 Paton, or whatever else I've got that I am willing to part with ;)

Just for fun! They refrigerated for a few years but that may not have helped much at all, we'll see.

3/23/2026 3:42:38 PM

Damariscotta, Maine

8 will sprout is my guess.

3/23/2026 4:00:33 PM

Nova Scotia

going with lucky 7

3/23/2026 4:33:05 PM

9

3/23/2026 4:41:40 PM

New England

3/19 is my guess :/

3/23/2026 5:10:30 PM

50 Acres

11/19 sprouts

3/23/2026 6:19:46 PM

C N Y

19/19. eg

3/23/2026 7:02:08 PM

Arlington, MN

14 is my guess

3/23/2026 8:00:22 PM

Putnam Ct.

13 is my guess

3/23/2026 8:46:45 PM

Connecticut, USA

10/19

3/23/2026 9:08:29 PM

Ironton, ohio

I'll guess 12

3/23/2026 9:42:29 PM

Anchorage Alaska

4

3/23/2026 10:33:57 PM

Grittyville, WA

I'll give them about 10 days to sprout then do a tally. Or maybe longer but not longer than a couple weeks.

3/24/2026 12:41:24 AM

Bethlehem CT

the old ones are often really slow to germinate!!

3/24/2026 6:46:19 AM

Bethlehem CT

5/19

3/24/2026 6:46:28 AM

Germany

Two guesses from my end: 3/19 that will sprout in such a way that they are able to produce a (more or less) useful seedling, and a total of 7/19 that will at least expose a root tip (including those buggers that would eventually die of weakness etc. even before growing a root of decent length)

3/24/2026 7:30:01 AM

Jericho Vermont

2/19

3/24/2026 7:31:18 AM

Central NY

7./19

3/24/2026 7:42:17 AM

Alex, IN

5/19

3/24/2026 7:48:40 AM

Topsfield, MA

6/19

3/24/2026 8:21:25 AM

Centennial Colorado

5/19

3/24/2026 10:02:39 AM

Grittyville, WA

I need someone cynical to guess 0/19. But I do hope you guys are right.

3/24/2026 11:43:02 AM

Western NY

1/19

3/24/2026 3:05:26 PM

Australia [email protected]

14 out of 19 to sprout

3/24/2026 3:48:47 PM

France

5/19

3/24/2026 6:22:56 PM

aurora, IL

I think zero might sprout, but I hope some will. I am trying to sprout some of my old seeds that are about 8 years, but no success so far.

3/24/2026 11:03:05 PM

Sault Ste Marie, MI 49783

4/19

3/25/2026 12:00:35 PM

Lake Oswego, OR

12 of 19

3/25/2026 3:18:50 PM

Grittyville, WA

Is that an official guess Christopher?

I'll put you down for
0/19 I have a hunch that it's actually not a bad guess.

3/25/2026 3:54:04 PM

Grittyville, WA

& Good luck with the 8 year old seeds I've got a batch of those too, will see how they go!

3/25/2026 3:55:24 PM

aurora, IL

Yes, 0/19 is my guess. So far all I get out of my old seeds that I have tested is they swell from being soaked in water for about an hour and filed their edges. I tried twice using the paper towel method once using 3% hydrogen peroxide, but after a couple days the seeds still start to mold.

3/25/2026 9:36:51 PM

C N Y

Christopher24, see this fun method, all of it and still use heat;
They are 2014 seeds and I'm testing currently for improvements.
https://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=351598
Literally, no pressure, lol---eric g

[Last edit: 03/25/26 11:12:23 PM]

3/25/2026 11:10:52 PM

Grittyville, WA

Christopher- I think they may need to have their paper towel changed out and maybe re-rinse every day or two to prevent mold. Rot is definitely the enemy of weaker older seeds.

3/26/2026 12:19:56 AM