Find Out How Long Your Garden Seeds Actually Last

Have you ever dug into a pile of old seeds and wondered if they're still good? How long do seeds last anyway? The short answer: It depends.

Here's what you need to know about storing your seeds properly and what you can do to maximize the shelf life of your vegetable, herb, and flower seeds.

And you can take this info with you: simply download my free cheat sheet so you'll always know how long you can expect the most common garden seeds to last under ideal conditions.

How long do seeds last?

Seeds have a shelf life (as all living things do), and depending on where your particular shelf is, the viability of your seeds can vary by as much as a year or two.

When someone asks, “How long do broccoli seeds last?” a safe answer is three years, but in ideal conditions your seeds could still actually sprout after five. So, you see where our dilemma lies.

What are ideal storage conditions for seeds?

Our seeds would live in this cool, dark, dry environment and 10 years later, those very first tomato seeds we’d ever bought would still be viable.

In reality, our homes go from hot to cold at the turn of the seasons, we sometimes forget our seed packets outside overnight (or at least I do), and an old shoebox will have to do for storage.

What temperature should you store seeds at?

Every time a seed experiences less than ideal conditions, it suffers a decline in quality. It may not die right away, but it might take a little longer to germinate.

Swipe up to learn more.