Seed Survival Story

From Rachel in North Carolina

"I ordered some seeds a long time ago from you (I think maybe you sold them on eBay back then) and put some of them into a glass jar in the freezer. The date on the seeds is 2011. The plan was to leave them in there indefinitely."

Then came Hurricane Helene (September 2024)

“We got hit hard here in Western NC (near Asheville). We lost power for a very long time and lost everything in the refrigerator and freezer. Obviously, the seeds thawed out with everything else.”

The 14-Year Test

“We planted some of them this spring since they had thawed out. I wasn't sure how good 14-year-old seeds would be, but they did pretty well! The germination rate was good and the plants seem to be thriving. This is the first time I've grown okra!”

Results:

Germination rate: Good
Plants: Thriving
Varieties: Okra, kale, dill

"I thought I'd share—I wasn't planning on these thawing out but it was interesting to see what 14-year-old frozen seeds would really do." — Rachel S.

Got your own survival seed story? Share it here and inspire others.