Does Grass Seed Go Off?

[johnny37]

I am extending the lawn. Prepared and put down seed about 10 days ago but it does not seem to have taken. The seed has been stored in a dry condition in the shed for a year or so. Does it go off?

[Old_Geezer]

I would suspect so. Some (most ?) seeds can stay dormant for years but there must be a point where they have deteriorated so much that the can no longer germinate.

I'd have thought a year would not make a lot of difference though.

[jomifl]

Grass seed can take a while to germinate if conditions aren't ideal. There will be some loss of percentage germination after a year in a dry shed but there would still be a useful amount germinating.

[Peter Pedant]

technical answer here

http://www.garden-counselor-lawn-care.com/grass-seed-germination.html

piddy really I wanted to write about King Tut's bread....
there is a urban myth that seed from King Tut germinated
( it didnt but they tried )
butcha can buy and grow the wheat type T turgicum that they found
[ still grew wild in Iran ]

[Chipchopper]

I kept a grass seed mix in an old coffee jar for about 8 years. It was still viable after all that time but not as much as it was when I first bought it, so I used to counter-act by putting it down thicker as it increased with age.

I think its a good tip, not to let the seeded area dry out, one dry windy day and you can lose the lot.

[jomifl]

chipchopper, you are so right, grass after germinating is very vulnerable to drying out .