Are my seeds expired?

[MedusaGrower]

About a year and a half ago I ordered ten feminized seeds. I grew two of them and just recently decided to start growing again. I had 5 left because I foolishly wasted 3 of them in a hopeless outdoor attempt. I only want to grow one plant and here is the summary of my attempts to germinate a seed:

Seed 1: I planted it directly into my Foxfarm Ocean Forrest soil, watered it, and then angled a compact flouro bulb at the spot. It didn't sprout. And I couldn't find the seed in the soil to try the paper towel method with it.
Seed 2: I germinated it in a paper towel. After a few days the tap root emerged and I planted it the same way I planted Seed 1. It started to grow, reaching about one or two centimeters in height with the seed shell still affixed to the top. It died.
Seed 3: I germinated it in a paper towel and the tap root emerged. This time I wanted to let the tap root grow bigger before planting it. It didn't grow any bigger, and is still in the paper towel, the root being the same size it was 4 days ago.
Seed 4: I've had it in the wet paper towel for like 2 and a half days and no tap root has emerged.

I have 1 seed left. I understand that I need to add some perlite and vermiculite to my top soil but would the absense of those mediums prevent seeds from sprouting? Also, Seed 2 might have died as a result of low temperature. It may have dropped down to 55 or 60 degrees before I thought to set up a space heater in the room. And with seed 3, the paper towel might have dried out. I re-soaked it but it might have been already too late. Anyway, these are the only reasons I can think of as to why I haven't got a sprout in 4 attempts, besides the possibility of the seeds being expired. Since they arrived in the mail, I have kept them in a plastic bag inside a cabinet. The bag wasn't seeled but it was folded over many times, like a dime bag would be. I have recently read that seeds stored for like a year or more should be kept in an air tight jar in the freezer. Being that seed 2 basically started to grow.... could the seeds be expired? I've got one good seed left and really don't want to have to use bagseed for my grow. These are great genetics, and cost me a pretty penny. What should I do with final Seed 5? Should I put it in a wet paper towel like the others?

MedusaGrower Reviewed by MedusaGrower on 03-23-2007. Are my seeds expired? About a year and a half ago I ordered ten feminized seeds. I grew two of them and just recently decided to start growing again. I had 5 left because I foolishly wasted 3 of them in a hopeless outdoor attempt. I only want to grow one plant and here is the summary of my attempts to germinate a seed: Seed 1: I planted it directly into my Foxfarm Ocean Forrest soil, watered it, and then angled a compact flouro bulb at the spot. It didn't sprout. And I couldn't find the seed in the soil to Rating: 5

[partcleguy]

I've had a seedling emerge with the shell still tight around the leaves. I thought it was going to die but I finally cut the seed off very carefully myself and it perked back up. Try that next time. I also had some problems germinating some older seeds... sometimes they don't work.

[stinkyattic]

Seeds have a constant germ rate for the first 5 years, after which time it starts to decrease.

[MedusaGrower]

So no matter where you store them, they will germinate within the first 5 years?

Is putting them in a wet paper towel the best way to do it?

[stinkyattic]

So no matter where you store them, they will germinate within the first 5 years??

lol I know what you meant but you worded it funny, like they germinate on their own within 5 years!
Like any seeds, you have to store them properly, perferably in a cool, dry, dark place. Tehn when it's time to germinate them, they should be as good as they were when they were first harvested.

Is putting them in a wet paper towel the best way to do it?

It's a very popular way but isn't set in stone.