Hello all, With regards to the questions regarding seeds, I work for one of the largest U.S. mail-order seed houses and can tell you that the seeds viability is monitored extremely closely. Each and EVERY lot is germination tested every thirty days, all lots are required to exceed eighty seven percent or the lot is pulled.No variety that is sold by the company is exempt from this procedure. To say that the company is neurotic about this standard would not be considered an exaggeration.The penalties for infraction of the federal standard are relatively severe, and we are routinely monitored for compliance. regards David Ryle