does grass seed go bad???

Anonymous-0 · Jun 21, 2011

Hey folks,
I always keep a few kgs of seed around sealed in a 5 gal bucket. Planted a place about 400 sq ft a little bit ago and it is coming up uneven. Am I just impatient or could the stuff go bad with age???

rustyfarmall · Jun 21, 2011

Yes, it does go bad. I wasted my time reseeding part of my lawn early this spring. I had a little seed left over from a few years ago, and I mixed it with some seed bought fresh from the store. NONE of it sprouted. I think the seed I bought new was every bit as old as the seed I already had.

RayP(MI) · Jun 21, 2011

Lots of variables in grass seed germinating. Keep it damp for a few more days and see what happens. Yes, grass seed probably deteriorates with age, even with good storage.

David G · Jun 21, 2011

Grass seed does go bad, you can expect a 50% germination after
one year of storage.

Bob - MI · Jun 21, 2011

Last year I broke tradition and I bought Scotts (expensive) seed for my daughter's lawn that we re-planted after driveway excavation. I noticed on the bag that there was an expiration date and we used it up quickly.

The Scott's seed is coated with some magical stuff requiring less water. I will tell you that I have planted a fair amount of grass in my days but I have never seen any seed that came in like this stuff did. It's evenly distributed and it looks great even though she is less than committed when it comes to watering.

Comes in a white bag and 3.0lbs is about $11.00 at the local Menard's.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 21, 2011

Yes grass seed goes bad. But how you store it will be a big facter in how long you can store it and still be useable.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 21, 2011

grasses as fescue and orchard grass actually gain germ for 3 yrs--clovers etc lose garm after 1 yr

rexhellwig · Jun 21, 2011

I got some 20 year old fescue once because the price was right. {free}

I over-seeded just to play it safe. The germination rate ?

0%

That's right, not a single blade of grass - nothing.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 21, 2011

If i get seed that i think is old I will put some seed in a damp towel and test it for germination rate. If it has a low germination I don't waste my time planting it. I even tested new seed.

Fergienewbee · Jun 22, 2011

I don't know about grass seed, but I bought a bag of cow peas three years ago for food plots. I just finished using it up and the germination has been great.

Larry

Jeff-oh · Jun 22, 2011

Yes it can go bad.

oldtanker · Jun 22, 2011

We had that problem with veggie seeds. We noticed germination rates with seeds purchased that year. Found out a few years later after we changed brands (the major name was the problem) that the seed company had changed how they did business. Old way was for them to set up displays in stores and keep them stocked. At the end of the season they would pick up unsold seed and be paid for what sold. They changed so that the stores had to buy the seed. End of the season the seeds that were unsold were the property of the store, who had been told that with proper storage the seed would be good next year. Just how many of these stores could properly store seed or even knew how to?

So yea grass seed and any other kind can go bad.

Rick

does grass seed go bad???

Anonymous-0

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