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Test old seeds before planting

Alison Stoven, Special To The Rocky

Published February 10, 2007 at midnight

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Question: With this snow and cold weather, I'm really looking forward to the gardening season. I have leftover vegetable seeds from last year, and the package claims they "expired." Will they grow this year?

Answer: It's worth your while to do a test to see whether the seeds are still viable. Wet a paper towel, count out 10 seeds and space out on the towel. Roll up the paper towel and place in a sealed zip-top plastic bag. Clearly mark the bag with the date, seed name and variety. Leave the bag at room temperature and check it after five days to see whether any seeds sprouted. Keep checking the bag every other day until two weeks have elapsed.

Most seeds should sprout after two weeks, if they are viable. Count the number of sprouted seeds to get a germination percentage. For example, if six of 10 seeds sprouted, then your germination percentage is 60 percent. If the percentage is high, then plan on using those seeds for this growing season. If the percentage is low, it would be better to dispose of the seeds and buy new ones. Remember that this germination test is just an estimate, and it might be better to plant more seeds than you need, to compensate for poor germination.

Q: Are there any de-icing treatments, other than salt, that are less damaging to plants along sidewalks?

A: Chemical de-icers will aid in removing ice and snow from sidewalks and driveways, but they also can be harmful to plants, including your lawn. Over-application of chemical de-icers actually can shorten the lifespan of concrete surfaces, pollute water from possible run-off and cause plant decline or death. If chemical de-icers are necessary, use them wisely and in a combination with mechanical methods.

A solution to slippery walks and drives is to remove as much snow and ice as possible from the surface (shoveling or snow blowing), then apply damp sand or kitty litter to the surface. While sand and kitty litter do not aid in ice and snow melt, they provide much-needed traction to slick areas.

Another solution is to use a combination of sand or kitty litter with chemical de-icers, reducing the chemical amount used, but still providing abrasive traction.

Alison Stoven is the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension horticulture agent in Larimer County. For information on many horticulture topics visit www.planttalk.org.