if you can crush them between your fingers, they were no good - even fresh seeds will probably float, so you can't go by that, but, MY personal method is to trash any seeds that refuse to sink after a 24-hour presoak - best way to store seeds is in the refrigerator - long-term freezing is permissible IF the seeds are DRY - nobody, repeat: nobody, can tell a male seed from a female seed - ideal temp for a plant is about 75 dgrees F, so few areas would support an outdoor grow in the Winter - besides, indoors has no cloudy days, no deer, moles, or bugs, etc