A frequent question amongst new and old gardeners alike is whether or not their seeds have expired. The reality is there is no general consensus for all seeds because some seeds are viable for only short periods while others may last for quite a while. One of the oldest viable seeds that ever grew into a plant was a date palm from Herod’s Palace that was believed to have been at least 2,000 years old.
Seeds require ideal conditions to be viable and the two factors that will decrease germination possibility is moisture exposure and temperature. While many keep their seeds in the refrigerator, humidity will be a seed killer and invite mold if a close eye isn’t kept on them. No matter where you store them, your storage device of choice needs to have a tight seal on the lid.
Remember, a seed that’s 2-3 years old might produce a fine crop but the longer that original seed is used, it will produce less and less food. If a variety grows well in your area, don’t hesitate to order fresh seeds every few years to keep your supply up.
While most individuals simply throw out their old seed, I like to take the Ruth Stout method of gardening and see if there’s any chance of viability. If you read Ruth Stout’s gardening books, you’ll come to realize that her way was very haphazard and her overall attitude seemed to be that if something grows, then so be it. I simply prep the bed with some amendments and liberally sprinkle all my older or questionable seeds and if they grow, I’ll be happy to harvest what I can.
Type:
- Beans & Peas 2-4 years
- Carrots 3-4 years
- Corn 1-3 years
- Lettuce 1-5 years
- Melons 3-6 years
- Hot & Sweet Peppers 2-5 years
- Pumpkins 4-6 years
- Tomato 3-7 years
- Basil 3-5 years
- Chives 1-3 years
- Cilantro 1-4 years
- Dill 1-4 years
- Oregano 4 years
- Parsley 1-2 years
- Rosemary 1-4 years
- Thyme 1-4 years
- Sage 1-3 years
- Broccoli 4-5 years
- Okra 2 years
- Cucumber 4-5 years
- Cabbage 4-5 years
- Eggplant 3-4 years
- Kale 3-4 years
- Onion 1 year
- Radish 2-3 years
- Spinach 1-3 years
- Turnip 2-3 years
In order to determine the germination rate for older seeds, take a folded wet paper towel and place 10 seeds inside, then place the napkin inside a sandwich bag and put it somewhere that’s not too hot or cold. Check each day to see if there are any signs of germination. If you still have the original packet that the seeds came in, you can know how many days to wait for signs of life. If after that length of time there are no signs of life, the seeds are past their prime and can be tossed in the compost bin.
Suburban & Rural Homesteading Today 