102 
VEGETABLE GARDENING 
151. The longevity of seeds. — The life of seeds depends 
upon (1) the kind of vegetables, (2) conditions under 
which they were grown, (3) thoroughness of curing. 
(4) storage conditions, and (5) vitality of individual seed 
plant and other factors. In some years seeds lose their 
vitality more rapidly than in others. The figures in the 
following table relative to the longevity of vegetable 
seeds are conservative, for it is not best to place too much 
reliance upon tables of this character; the only certain 
means of determining the vitality of seeds is to make 
germination tests. For example, although tomato seed 
will germinate, on the average, for perhaps five years, 
excellent plants have been grown from seed 13 years old. 
The following table shows maximum ages of properly 
cured and stored vegetable seeds when they will be likely 
to germinate satisfactorily: 
Years 
Artichoke 2 
Asparagus 2 
Bean 3 
Beet 4 
Cabbage 3 
Carrot .... 1 
Cauliflower 4 
Celery 2 
Cucumber 5 
Eggplant S 
Endive 2 
Kale ... 2 
Kohlrabi 3 
Leek 3 
Years 
Lettuce 4 
Muskmelon, 5 
Okra 4 
Onion 1 
Parsley 1 
Parsnip 1 
Pea 3 
Pepper 3 
Radish 2 
Salsify 2 
Squash 3 
Tomato 5 
Turnip 4 
Watermelon 5 
Large, plump seed will produce stronger plants than 
small seed, probably due to a greater amount of food 
stored in the seed for the use of the seedling plant be- 
fore the latter has roots enough to support itself. For 
this reason the screening of some seeds, to eliminate the 
small ones, is a desirable practice. 
