What happens if you plant fennel seeds from a spice rack?

[FeDeX_LaTeX]

Or for that matter, any other types of seeds you find in spice bottles, such as coriander seeds or even cumin seeds?

They've probably been treated in some way, but would they grow at all? Unfortunately there's no garden centre or anything near my uni.

 

[AlephZero]

If you want to try your luck, just plant some and see what happens.

But you should be able to buy seeds by mail order from a good seed merchant, e.g. (in the UK)
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetables/all-other-vegetables/herbs/fennel-victoria-f1-hybrid/754TM
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetables/all-other-vegetables/herbs/coriander-calypso/4784TM
They don't sell cumin, but it wouldn't grow well in the UK climate anyway.

 

[lisab]

In some countries, spices are allowed to be irradiated to kill pathogens. I'm not sure how this would affect a seed's germination, though.

AZ is right: you should try it and see what you get!

 

[AlephZero]

As well as the irradiation issue, many commercially grown crops are F1 hybrids. The seed may be naturally sterile, and if not they are unlikely to grow to be identical with the parent plants, or even to be similar to each other.

 

[Evo]

The seeds that you'd buy from a reputable seed company would be much cheaper than the price you pay for the spice. And they'll grow.

 

[Monique]

I don't know about seeds, but dried pulses (legumes) readily sprout when put into water. Do be aware of the F1 hybrids, the plant may not grow fruit like AlephZero mentioned.

Example of sprouted legumes:

 

[Algr]

I've seen potatoes do that too. I've always wanted to try planting one.

 

[Enigman]

I've grown potatoes and pulses when I was a kid, my kid brother tried some spices, they worked out (I think).

 

[AlephZero]

I don't know about seeds, but dried pulses (legumes) readily sprout when put into water. Do be aware of the F1 hybrids, the plant may not grow fruit like AlephZero mentioned.

Many legumes are self-pollinating (in some cases, even before the flowers open), so F1 hybridization is not a viable plant breeding technique. You can save seed from garden peas and beans and replant then for decades with no problem.

I've seen potatoes do that too. I've always wanted to try planting one.

Potatoes are not seeds, of course, so they are guaranteed to grow into the same variety, and the standard way to grow them is by replanting the potatoes. But they can be attacked by diseases carried by viruses, so saving your own seed is a bit risky in the long term, and the same viruses affect related plants such as tomatoes. (The viruses are harmless to humans, but they mess up the growth of the plants.)

Try planting two or three small potatoes in a bucket of Earth indoors in August and you will have new potatoes for Christmas dinner. The growing time is about 11 to 12 weeks. They need plenty of light but don't need high temperatures, so long as they are always above freezing.

Potato plants flower and set seeds (the fruits look like small tomatoes, but are highly poisonous!) but growing them from seed isn't practical.

 

[Enigman]

Potato plants flower and set seeds (the fruits look like small tomatoes, but are highly poisonous!) but growing them from seed isn't practical.

I have always wanted to grow(/graft) these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomato