{"id":7204,"date":"2026-11-06T18:01:26","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T18:01:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/?p=7204"},"modified":"2026-11-06T18:01:26","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T18:01:26","slug":"old-tomato-seed-yields","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/old-tomato-seed-yields\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Older Tomato Seeds Produce Lower Yields? | Forum Notes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\ud83c\udf45 Quick take:<\/strong> In this winter kitchen chat, swetlanna (Svetlana)<\/strong> and forum veteran T@tk@ (Tatyana)<\/strong> bust a persistent garden myth: old tomato seeds do not lower plant yield<\/strong>. While older pepper seeds lose germination fast, tomato seeds from 2014-2019 produce full crops once sprouted. Tatyana also breaks down canning tomato selection by texture: whether you prefer “slurpers” (juicy tomatoes that pop in the mouth) or “chewers” (dense, meaty plums under 3.5 oz \/ 100 g like Tolstoy F1<\/strong>, Slavyanka<\/strong>, and Gnocchia di Limone<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Jump to:<\/strong>
\nDo Old Tomato Seeds Yield Less? \u2193<\/a>
\nCanning Textures: “Slurpers” vs “Chewers” \u2193<\/a><\/div>\n

Canning Tomato Varieties & Old Seed Viability (USDA Zone 4 Discussion)<\/h2>\n
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swetlanna (Svetlana) \u2b50 Pro Grower (3,091 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Kaluga, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 January 21, 2026<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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On 1\/21\/2026 at 11:00 AM, grayci said:
\nPickled stuff with vinegar is rough on the stomach if you eat it non-stop. Your gut won’t thank you down the road.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Fair point, but sometimes you just crave something wonderfully bad for you \ud83d\ude01 Like skillet potatoes fried in pork lard with wild chanterelles! \ud83d\ude48 Tried eating clean a million times, but I have plenty of strength and plenty of will, just zero willpower.
\nAnyway, what canning varieties should I buy? \ud83e\udd37 Just remembered I used to grow Tolstoy F1. I still have seeds stashed, but they are dated 2014 to 2019. By the way, folks claim old seed batches deliver poor yields. Is there any truth to that, or should I just buy fresh packs?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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T@tk@ (Tatyana) \u2b50 Pro Grower (35,306 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Kazan, Vysokogorsky District, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 January 21, 2026<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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On 1\/21\/2026 at 9:35 AM, swetlanna said:
\nStandard 1.5-quart jars, looking for tomatoes up to about 3.5 oz (100 g).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

On 1\/21\/2026 at 11:34 AM, swetlanna said:
\nWhat canning varieties should I buy? Just remembered I used to grow Tolstoy F1…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Canning Textures: “Slurpers” vs “Chewers”<\/h3>\n

Svetlana, it all comes down to how you like your pickled tomatoes: are you looking for a “slurper” or a “chewer”?
\nIf you want something with actual bite that you can chew, Slavyanka and Topklipsa fit the bill. On the hybrid side, pretty much any pink commercial type (Spark, Kalibr, Garant) produces a ton of fruit right under 3.5 oz (100 g). Most hybrids hold up exceptionally well in vinegar brines. Pointed-tip plums with beaks work great too.
\nTake my suggestions with a grain of salt though: I never grow varieties strictly for whole-pack canning. I just pickle whatever surplus fits into the jar opening! The ladies who focus heavily on preserves can give you better recommendations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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T@tk@ (Tatyana) \u2b50 Pro Grower (35,306 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Kazan, Vysokogorsky District, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 January 21, 2026<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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On 1\/21\/2026 at 11:34 AM, swetlanna said:
\n…folks claim old seed batches deliver poor yields. Is there any truth to that, or should I just buy fresh packs?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Do Old Tomato Seeds Yield Less?<\/h3>\n

Regarding harvest yields on old seed, that is a complete myth in my experience.
\nNow, germination rates on older seed are a different story, especially with peppers, which drop off a cliff after a few years compared to fresh seed. But with tomatoes, if an old seed wakes up and grows, the vine will pump out just as heavy a crop as a brand-new seed pack.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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swetlanna (Svetlana) \u2b50 Pro Grower (3,091 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Kaluga, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 January 22, 2026<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Morning everyone!
\nTatyana, I never used to plant dedicated canning varieties either, just pickled whatever was rolling around the kitchen. But this year I have got a bee in my bonnet: I want uniform, medium-sized canning fruit in my jars!
\nDug up my past photos from 2020: Gnocchia di Limone<\/a> and Tolstoy F1<\/a>. Exactly what I am aiming for this season. Thanks for the suggestions, going to hunt down those seeds. Pretty sure I have Slavyanka<\/a> stashed somewhere too.<\/p>\n

\"Tolstoy<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Harvest<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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T<\/div>\n
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T@tk@ (Tatyana) \u2b50 Pro Grower (35,306 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Kazan, Vysokogorsky District, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 January 22, 2026<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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On 1\/22\/2026 at 10:05 AM, swetlanna said:
\nGnocchia di Limone and Tolstoy F1. Exactly what I am aiming for this season.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There you go! Those two fit your jars like a glove. Right size, tough skins that do not split in boiling brine, and heavy yields to boot! \ud83d\udc4d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Full Summary: Seed Longevity & Whole-Pack Canning Tomatoes<\/h3>\n