You may have found a packet of old garden seeds in your garage, shed or drawer and are wondering, can I still plant these seeds?
In general, garden seeds can have a shelf life of up to 3 years, which means that you can still sow them within three years of opening the packet. There are several factors that increase the seeds’ viability, which include moisture, light levels, and quality. Let’s take a closer look at how long will garden seeds last.
Can I Still Use My Old Garden Seeds?
Not all garden seeds have the same longevity- some, like onion seeds and parsley only have a shelf life of one year, while others, like radish, cucumber, collards, and cabbage can be stored for around 4 or 5 years and still germinate when you sow them.
Natural seed lifespan aside, it’s important to keep the seeds in a cool and dry place. You’ll want to keep them dry to preserve their dormant state.
Flowering plant seeds and similar varieties typically last longer, but they still have an average of somewhere around four to five years.
There’s a way to tell if the seeds are within their best before date. Check the packet and see when it was manufactured or sold. Some will have an expiration date, which is more accurate as they will know when their seeds will go bad.
Also, moving forward you can scribble in a date of when you collected the seeds before you store them for future use.
Don’t forget some seeds require soaking for great results we go into more details here
How Do I Know If My Garden Seeds Are Still Good?
Going back to the scenario of chancing upon some old seeds, you do want to test if they’re still viable for planting but don’t want to go through the hassle of preparing a pot and some soil for them. What’s next?
The easiest way to determine if your vegetable or flower seeds are still good is to look at the packet’s expiration date. If it’s still within range, then you have a higher chance of seeing sprouts and the seeds growing into their full potential.
If the packet is lost and there’s no label, then you can try to do a germination test. This method makes use of common household items- a paper towel, a Ziploc bag and water.
Step 1. Get a sheet of paper towel and a spray bottle. Fill the bottle with clean and lukewarm water, then use it to moisten the paper towel.
Step 2. Take 10 seeds and arrange them in a line along the moist paper towel. Then, cover the seeds by folding the paper towel.
Step 3. Prepare a Ziploc bag or something similar- a plastic bag or wrap can suffice in a pinch. This is to ensure the paper towel doesn’t dry out as fast. It also creates a greenhouse effect.
Step 4. Now, you’ll need to find a suitable location for the seeds. Choose a warm spot, like the top of your refrigerator or a windowsill that has a temperature of 70 degrees F. It’s worthy to note that it shouldn’t be exposed in a sunny spot or in direct sunlight- just somewhere warm should do the trick.
Step 5. Check the plastic bag every day and make sure the paper towel doesn’t dry out completely. You can take it out and spray some more water to keep the medium moist.
Step 6. After a few days, you might see signs of life. Carefully unroll the paper towel and check for germination. Take note of how many have sprouted versus how many have not.
Ideally, germination rate should be upwards of 70 percent for your seeds to be viable for planting. This means that 7 out of 10 seeds should have sprouted. If not, then it might be a good idea to just throw the packet away and start fresh.
Also, it’s best to follow the average germination time depending on the seed you test. This might be 3 to 5 days for some and up to 14 days or more for the others. Keep spraying to moisten the paper towel and do not allow it to completely dry out.
If you did achieve a 70% germination rate or higher, then that means the garden seeds are still okay to sow. Choose your method, e.g., sprinkle on a garden bed or a pot, water them in and wait a few days for the seeds to sprout.
Additionally, you can try the water test- fill a small jar or glass of water halfway, then drop the seeds and let them soak for around 15 minutes. The ones that sink are still, while the others can be thrown away.
How to Store Seeds So They Last Longer
Seeds can remain in their dormant state if you know the proper way to store them.
When you plant seeds, the first thing you do is give them water and light. So, to store the seeds, you take away light and water.
The seeds should be as dry as possible before you store them. Put them on top of a piece of paper or similar material, then wait a few days. Make sure they don’t get light currently. It’s a good idea to put them in a paper envelope, packet, or pouch so they won’t spill out accidentally.
The best way to store seeds is in a cool and dry place. Even when you put them in a paper envelope they might still germinate if you put them somewhere warm. You should also label them with stickers or by writing the name of the seed or plant for reference.
Avoid moisture at all costs, as it can cause the seed to prematurely germinate before you want it to.
Most garden seeds will have a 3-year lifespan if they’re properly stored and as far away from moisture as possible. You can conduct a seed germination test to see if they’re still worth the effort or not.