How Long Do Seeds Last? (Seed Viability)

Everything has it’s own time, even seeds. They just don’t last forever! Fortunately though many seeds do last a long period of time and you can use seed from previous years to grow your garden. I’ve had tomato seeds germinate that were over 10 years old. Best of all they produced healthy tasty tomatoes! I’ve had echinacea seed as well that lasted over 10 years and still produced some beautiful flowers. The key to long term seed viability is in their storage.

Storing Seeds for Long Term Seed Viability

The location where you store your seeds is the most essential factor in keeping your seeds viable for many years. Seeds in general will want a cool, dark, and dry location. Most vegetable plants will be perfectly fine for long periods of time if stored properly.

Cold Stratification

Some seeds need cold stratification that can be accomplished by storage in a refrigerator. This isn’t a requirement of all seeds but may help lengthen the period of viability the seeds have. Cold starification mimics the freezing and thawing temperatures seeds would experience in nature.

Moist Stratification

There are some species like pawpaws or ginkgo trees that need moist stratification. That can be accomplished by putting them in a plastic bag with sphagnum peat moss that is just a little moist. Then the seeds can be stored through the winter. By Spring the seeds should be ready to plant outdoors in pots.

How Long Do Seeds Stay Viable?

Below is a chart of seed viability by some of the more common vegetable and herb seeds so you can see approximately how long they last. Please note that these are just general guidelines and the actual period of viability will be determined by the type of seed, variety, and storage methods. As you can see most seeds can be stored for several years without many issues. As seeds get older the viability decreases and fewer seeds in the packet will germinate. You will still be able to see some germination for a long time.

On shorter viability seeds like members of the Allium family I recommend planting out the whole packet of seeds. Use what you need from the plants then let the rest go to seed and you can collect seeds for future years.

Vegetable Seed Viability

VegetableViability (Years)Notes
Beans (Phaseolus spp.)3–5Store dry for best longevity.
Beet (Beta vulgaris)3–5High humidity shortens lifespan.
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)3–5Store in cool, dark places.
Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)4–5Similar to broccoli in storage needs.
Carrot (Daucus carota)3–4Can deteriorate quickly in warm conditions.
Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)3–5Keep sealed to maintain longevity.
Corn (Zea mays)1–2Best used fresh each year.
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)5–6Excellent longevity under ideal storage.
Eggplant (Solanum melongena)4–5Seeds last well under dry storage.
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)5Stores well with proper care.
Onion (Allium cepa)1–2Very short-lived; use promptly.
Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)1Should be planted within one year.
Peas (Pisum sativum)3–4Regular testing recommended after 3 years.
Pepper (Capsicum spp.)2–4Requires dry, cool storage to last 4 years.
Radish (Raphanus sativus)5One of the longer-lasting seeds.
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)3–4Declines after 4 years.
Squash (Cucurbita spp.)4–6Seeds last longer than average.
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)4–6Long-lasting with proper storage.
Turnip (Brassica rapa)4–5Similar to radish.
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)4–5Longevity depends on storage conditions.
Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo)4–6Lasts longer than many other vegetables.
Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla)3–5Similar to beet in storage needs.
Celery (Apium graveolens)5Keep in cool, dry conditions for best results.
Kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica)4–5Strong viability under good storage conditions.
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)2–3Shorter viability, test older seeds.

Herb Seed Viability

HerbSeed Viability (Years)Notes
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)3–5Seeds germinate reliably if stored dry.
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)2–3Regular viability testing recommended.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)1–2Short lifespan, use promptly.
Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)2–3Test older seeds after 2 years.
Dill (Anethum graveolens)3–5Long viability with proper storage.
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)3–4High humidity reduces seed life.
Lavender (Lavandula spp.)2–3Keep dry to maximize viability.
Mint (Mentha spp.)1–3Requires ideal storage conditions for longer viability.
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)3–5Lasts well when stored cool and dry.
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)1–2Short-lived, use seeds quickly.
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)3–4Regular viability testing after 3 years.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)3–4Proper storage can extend seed life.
How to Fix Leggy Seedlings

How to Fix Leggy Seedlings

One common issue many gardeners have when starting plants from seed is legginess. This is a problem that is normally a result of not enough light and is easy to fix! My current batch of tomato and pepper seedlings is showing signs of legginess and…

Read More

How to Grow Ginkgo Trees from Seed

Ginkgo trees are beautiful and amazing trees. These trees (Ginkgo biloba) are native to Asia and can be extremely long lived, as in over 1,000 years! In fact the ginkgo species existed at the same time as the dinosaurs. Ginkgo trees are also called the…

Read More
how long do seeds stay viable?

How Long Do Seeds Last? (Seed Viability)

Everything has it’s own time, even seeds. They just don’t last forever! Fortunately though many seeds do last a long period of time and you can use seed from previous years to grow your garden. I’ve had tomato seeds germinate that were over 10 years…

Read More
Growing Sweet Bay Magnolia from Seed

How to Grow Sweetbay Magnolia from Seeds

No matter where I go when I see seeds that are ripe I’m tempted to collect them. That was the case when walking around Knoxville last year and seeing some ripe magnolia seeds on some Sweetbay magnolia plants. Sweetbay magnolias have several names including: sweetbay…

Read More

How to Extract Seeds from Chaff

Have you ever wondered “How do I separate those tiny seeds from the chaff?” It’s not hard and shouldn’t cost you a dime to remove all those tiny seeds. There are quite a few methods for separating the seeds from the chaff, this is just…

Read More

Discover more from Growing The Home Garden

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Discover more from Growing The Home Garden

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading