A perfect stand sets the stage for high ear count at harvest. Knowing the quality of your seed lets you avoid or manage potential stand problems. “Most tags list the warm germination rating, but few ...

The U.S. Defense Department issued a memo on Feb. 17, warning service members to avoid eating poppy seeds because doing so may result in a positive urine test for the opiate codeine. Addiction and ...

Poppy seeds come from a species of poppy plant called Papaver somniferum. “Somniferum” is Latin for “sleep-bringing,” which hints that it might contain opiates – powerful compounds that depress the ...

Some seed corn can germinate and thrive in cold, wet spring soils. Some can’t. The challenge is to know, before you plant, which seed has a high enough germination rate to handle harsh weather ...

Before I buy new seeds for my garden, is there some way I can test my seeds from last year to see if they are still good? Yes, there is a simple way to test all your old seeds to see if they are still ...

If you save seeds, you might wonder whether those from last year are still viable. A quick and easy preseason seed germination test can answer that question. Germination tests can be performed using ...

The US Defense Department issued an official warning to troops last week: If you don’t want to test positive on a drug test, you should avoid poppy seeds. A memo distributed on Friday from Gilbert ...

I’ve had just about enough of winter and am itching to get my hands dirty. I can’t do that yet in my New York garden, but I have been distracting myself by growing microgreens and dwarf strawberries ...

Depending on where you store them and what types of seeds they contain, your old, dog-eared seed packets may or may not be worth using this season. Seeds are alive; they do not live forever.