Mrs. David's Garden Seeds®

Seed Float Test

There is a seed float test going around the internet that we had not heard of. It is not a true test of seed viability like it says it is. Some of the seeds that float go on to germinate. The test is nonsense. The real test of seed viability is to plant the seeds correctly, about 1/4th of an inch deep and see if they grow. No need to float them.

Some of our tiny seeds that just came in. They go into one of our seed counters to be counted and packed and then shipped out to our customers.Some of our tiny seeds that just came in. They go into one of our seed counters to be counted and packed and then shipped out to our customers.

The test goes like this:

Place your seeds in a container of water.

Let the seeds sit in the water for 15 minutes.

If the seeds sink, they are good to plant.

If the seeds float, they are not good to plant because they might not germinate.

This is a ridiculous premise. It is total nonsense. Reading through a bunch of different people's experiences, some of the floating seeds germinated and some of the seeds that sank to the bottom of the container did not.

Here at David's Garden Seeds®, we pack fresh seeds daily. They grow. We grow them. Our customers grow them. They are meant to be planted and grown, not floated in water.

Seed Float Test

These seeds look like small pebbles and they are a bit heavy. I doubt they would float even if they were not viable.These seeds look like small pebbles and they are a bit heavy. I doubt they would float even if they were not viable.

If you purchase good quality seeds from a good quality seed company, you should not have to worry about whether or not the seeds are viable. If you buy them from a discount store or a dollar store, you should worry because the seeds are old which is why you shouldn't waste your money. Get your seeds from a reputable seed company, someone you can trust who sells the best seeds they can sell, like us, David's Garden Seeds®. We have been in business for 13 and 1/2 years and we have sold a lot of seeds in all that time. This is the first time that someone has told us our seeds are no good because they float. What???

So we started looking this stuff up. What most of the articles talk about is if you find an old pack of seeds from eight, ten, or twelve years ago, they might not be viable and here is how you can test them. Do the seed float test. The different articles don't say that if you just bought brand new seeds from a good seed company that were just counted and packed and received by you that you should test them. You should not. You should plant them. Most of the seeds will germinate if you are planting them correctly--not too deep, the soil is warm enough, and you are watering correctly.

Some of the articles say that they planted the seeds that sank as well as the seeds that floated and both germinated for most of the seeds they tested.

One of the website articles said that some seeds just float due to the way they are shaped but they are fine and germinate just fine.

So why would someone arbitrarily come up with a seed float test? My guess is that some people have way too much time on their hands and think things up. This causes confusion and trouble for those of us who sell fresh, heirloom, Non-GMO seeds. Customers try this crazy experiment instead of planting them. Then they get mad at us and want a refund instead of planting the seeds and seeing if they come up.

Just this week, David got an email from an unhappy customer who bought some of our seeds and they floated so she wanted a refund. What? Again, our seeds are meant to be planted, not floated for some ridiculous, made up seed float test.

There are many colors, sizes, and shapes of seeds.There are many colors, sizes, and shapes of seeds.

I have looked at 20 articles on 20 different websites about the seed float test. Some of the university articles say that some seeds just naturally float because that is how they are meant to be. They are fresh but will not sink. Other articles say some types of seeds will sink, some will float, but that doesn't mean anything. Some articles say that you should only do this when the seeds are old. Then there are those who are convinced that if your seeds float, they are no good. I say go one step further and plant them correctly, about 1/4 inch deep into the soil. If they don't come up after seven to 30 days or so, depending on the seed, then it shows they are not viable.

Seed Float Test Conclusion

If you purchase our fresh seeds and you float them and get them wet, make sure you plant them. Otherwise, you are ruining the seeds. Seeds should not get wet unless you are actually planting them. Do not expect us to give you a refund for testing the seeds and then ruining them. No where in our directions do we instruct you to test them.

Remember that we do not send out old seeds. We do not have old seeds. Our seeds are good and they sell pretty quickly, especially in the spring when everyone is anxious to plant a beautiful garden. Just plant the seeds and have a happy garden. Leave the silly internet experiments for those with too much time on their hands. You are busy. Plant your garden according to our germination instructions and go about your daily lives. Take care of your garden by watering the right amount for your soil and climate.

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