Every Spring, Garden centers across the country roll-out racks of brand new seeds packed specifically for the current year. Most of the seeds will have a sell-by date on the back of the package that many people might equate to a best-by date. Contrary to the indication on the back of the package, seeds actually last much longer. Here’s what you need to know about the “secret lifetime of seeds”.

1. Most Seeds are viable with good germination rates for 2-6 years
When you buy seed packs for Spring Planting, keep in mind that those seeds will still be viable for a few more years. Most home gardeners I know don’t have enough space to plant 50 Pumpkins during one growing season. Nor do most gardeners want to grow 50 tomatoes of a single variety. Because of this, you are extremely likely to have extra seeds. Just set them aside for next spring in a cool place; preferably in airtight containers where they will not be exposed to moisture.
Depending on the Type of Seeds, you should be able to get 2-6 years’ worth of plants from one seed packet. Some seeds, such as Carrots and Onions, have a shorter lifetime closer to 2 or 3 years. After that, germination rates (the number of seeds out of those planted that actually sprout) will start to drop off and you’ll have to plant more seeds in order to get the number of plants you’re hoping for. Other seeds, such as tomatoes and cucumbers last for many years, though after 4-6 years germination rates may decline.
2. Old Seeds are Still worth Planting
Even if your seeds are several years old, you don’t need to toss them out. Many of the seeds may still germinate. For example, Craig Lehoullier notes in his book “Epic Tomatoes” that he has been able to germinate tomato seeds up to 14 years old. Even if you just keep them around for experiments, old seeds need not be thrown out.
Before planting the seeds, you can test the germination rate by laying out 10 seeds on a wet paper towel. Keep the paper towel damp until the seeds germinate. This will give you the germination rate for your seeds. If 5 germinate, you still have a 50% germination rate. After you’ve determined the germination rate, you can plant your seeds (though of course, testing the germination rate is optional. If you know you’re germination rate is 50%, just plant 2 seeds where before you would have only planted one.
3. Get Deals on “old” seeds
Seed companies and garden centers are not allowed to sell seeds that were packed for previous years. Because of this, you may find clearance seed racks with last year’s seeds at heavily discounted prices. Just last night, at our local Ace Hardware, I found a bin of seeds marked down to 25 cents a pack. What a great find! Most of these seeds, if not all, are still very much viable. In fact, most of the seeds I’m growing this year are a year old anyway. So, why not add a few more year-old seed packs to the mix?

Once your favorite garden center starts rolling out new seeds for the spring, keep an eye out for their clearance seeds from last spring. It’s a great way to get lots of seeds for just a couple of bucks.
Seed Viability According to Colorado State University
This chart shows the expected germination rate and corresponding years of viability for common seed types. You’ll note, that for most varieties 65% or higher germination rates can be expected from seeds that are several years old. Thus, if you’re ok with experiencing slightly lower germination rates, even old seeds can still be grown.
Seed Type | Expected Germination Rate | Years of Viability |
Beans | 70% | 3 |
Beets | 65% | 4 |
Carrots | 55% | 3 |
Swiss Chard | 65% | 4 |
Cucumbers | 80% | 5 |
Eggplant | 60% | 4 |
Lettuce | 80% | 1 |
Onions | 70% | 1 |
Peas | 80% | 3 |
Peppers | 55% | 2 |
Pumpkins | 75% | 4 |
Spinach | 60% | 3 |
Tomatoes | 75% | 4 |
Let us know in the comments how old the oldest seeds you’ve successfully grown were. And be sure to check out the Vegetable Starts Shop to find high-quality heirloom starts for your 2022 Gardening season.