Shelf Life of Seeds
After receiving a few questions about the shelf life of various seeds I figured I’d research a bit and come up with a list for you for you. Obviously different kinds of seeds have a different shelf life. Other things come into play as well, like humidity and temperature. You want to create the best possible environment for your seeds to have optimum shelf life. The garage or garden shed wouldn’t be the best storage place, unlike all the lovely magazine photos show.
There are a few things you can do to help increase the shelf life of your seeds. Keep them in a cool place, about 50 degrees and keep the humidity lower than 50%. One way to help with the humidity is to keep some of those little silica packs from purchasing shoes/bags in your seed box/jar. Some people choose to store their seeds in the fridge or freezer. I have read that storing in the fridge can double the shelf life and storing in the freezer can extend shelf life by 4-5 times. I’m thinking of making a little seed vault with a few varieties of seeds and stashing it in my freezer in a vacuum sealed bag, more about that later.
The seeds with the shortest shelf life are: onions, beans, peas, corn, grains. The ones with the longest shelf life are:
Brassicaceae (cruciferous family) broccoli, cabbage, radish
Solanaceae (nightshade family) tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
Cucurbitaceae (melon family) zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin
I have noticed that onions seeds lose about 50% germination by the second year and peas seem to lose germination rates quickly as well. It’s a good strategy to use most of those up each year or store them in the freezer when you’re not planting. Tomato seeds seem to last forever, I’ve never had trouble with reduced germination on tomatoes even with seed older than 5 years old.
Have you ever noticed changes in seed germination from improper storage or older seeds?
Filed under Seed Sowing | Comments (15)
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Yes some things I have stored for too long haven’t germinated…
I still have ‘Grandpa Ott’ morning glory seeds that I told I would send you but never did…I will have to get them to you! Morning glory seeds last at least 5 years so they should germinate wonderfully.
Joe´s last blog ..Approaching Rain
to Joe's comment
What a great post! Thank you so much for this great table! I am bookmarking it!
Catherine Forest´s last blog ..10 simple things I love
to Catherine Forest's comment
Beans for sure.
Thanks for the useful blog posts. Not only are you entertaining, I learn something as well!
Christine´s last blog ..Broccolli
to Christine's comment
Yes, more gardeners doing their own seed banks! As you know, I’m all about this :). I love the vacuum sealed bag idea, it’s something I never thought of. Please do share when you do it :).
Kelly´s last blog ..Awe In The Everyday
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Yes, I’m planning on dividing up my seed orders when I get them into a few vaults for years to come. That way I don’t lose seed through age and then I have them in case of emergency.
to Susy's comment
The freezing part makes sense – ala the “Doomsday Vault.” We’ve been storing ours in the basement…not intentionally as it’s just where they’ve ended up. I had to chuckle when I read a few articles online bemoaning how people over buy seeds and wouldn’t it be great if there were some seed exchanges set up. Don’t get me wrong, I love the seed exchange idea, but I couldn’t help but think that the seeds could be saved and replanted another year.
Thanks for a wonderful post on the matter!
Pampered Mom´s last blog ..How hard could it be to buy a computer?
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Very true. That’s what I’m planning on doing in my vault, distributing the remaining seeds in small amounts and freezing. I think I’ll end up with a few years worth of seeds, which will save me some money on seeds over the course of the next couple years.
to Susy's comment
Only time will tell.
Your table is a very helpful reference.
MAYBELLINE´s last blog ..Lilacs!
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I also have the habit of hording seeds as I usually only use a dozen or so of any seed I want to grow.
I test the seeds in question by germinating in a mini greenhouse first: put in moist-not wet-papertowel, fold over, zip sandwich bag closed and place in warm spot-above the fridge works well. In about seven days you can check the seed.
This year I lost some seed in a zip locked bag that I carelessly put into an attic. A mouse found them and at the sunflower seeds.
Now I see I have to use a metal box that’s mouse-proof.
I love germinating seeds – always feels like witnessing a miracle.
Thanks for sharing your photos with us.
to Chris Maciel's comment
Thank you for the chart! I will also bookmark it!
Wanda´s last blog ..2010 Knitting Olympics
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Absolutely, one am tell the difference in old seed and new seed for germination: how fast, how many and how healthy. I have to say that would only give 2 years to peppers and beans. On the other hand, I would rate carrots at 5 years. I am sure however that viability also vary with cultivar – besides proper storage. Basil also keeps well.
Sylvie´s last blog ..A Gross Of Tomatoes
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thank you for doing the dirty work and pulling this info together!
Kim Lowe´s last blog ..Costa Rica
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Thanks for the email the other day. Since I’m a gardening newbie, this info really helps.
Tommy
to Tommy's comment
[...] be normal and if stored in the fridge or freezer you can save them 2-5. I wrote a post about the shelf life of seeds already, you can download this chart from my Flickr account if you’d like a copy. You’ll also [...]
to Seed Starting 101: The Needs of Seeds | Chiot’s Run's comment
Great info! I even have dessicant bags so into the fridge they go. We have a tiny garden so way more seeds than we can use in a year.
Sara´s last blog ..New Forays with Chives
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