Are your seeds still viable?
On the Garden Betty website today is a post I don’t want anyone to miss. The topic is How Long Do Seeds Really Last? (Plus, a Cheat Sheet on Seed Storage Life).
The cheat sheet takes the average expected life expectancy of seeds from a variety of sources, including the cooperative extensions of Oregon State University, Colorado State University, Purdue University, and Virginia State University. Consider it more as a guideline, as the longevity of your seeds ultimately depends on the date on the packet and how carefully you’ve stored them since then.
To read more on the subject please visit Garden Betty.
| Vegetables | Shelf Life |
| Asparagus | 3 years |
| Beans | 3 years |
| Beets | 3 years |
| Broccoli | 3 years |
| Brussels sprouts | 4 years |
| Cabbage | 4 years |
| Carrots | 3 years |
| Cauliflower | 4 years |
| Celery | 3 years |
| Chard | 3 years |
| Chicory | 4 years |
| Collards | 4 years |
| Corn (sweet) | 2 years |
| Cress | 5 years |
| Cucumbers | 5 years |
| Eggplant | 4 years |
| Endive | 5 years |
| Kale | 4 years |
| Kohlrabi | 3 years |
| Leeks | 2 years |
| Lettuce | 3 years |
| Muskmelons | 5 years |
| Okra | 2 years |
| Onions | 1 year |
| Oriental greens | 3 years |
| Parsnips | 1 year |
| Peas | 3 years |
| Peppers | 2 years |
| Radishes | 5 years |
| Rutabagas | 4 years |
| Salsify | 1 year |
| Spinach | 3 years |
| Squash (summer and winter) | 4 years |
| Tomatoes | 5 years |
| Turnips | 4 years |
| Watermelons | 4 years |
| Herbs and Flowers | Shelf Life |
| Basil | 5 years |
| Chives | 2 years |
| Cilantro | 2 years |
| Fennel | 3 years |
| Oregano | 4 years |
| Parsley | 2 years |
| Sage | 4 years |
| Annual flowers | 1 to 3 years |
| Perennial flowers | 2 to 4 years |
California Organic Gardening Club 