Life Expectancy of Seeds

Saving seeds from your garden, or trading seeds with friends is always an economical and fun way to grow plants every year. The trick to growing these little treasures is not only how they are stored, but how long they are viable.

Seeds require a cool, dry, and dark storage space so that they retain stored carbohydrates and minimize fungal infection. I like to keep my seeds in the door of my refrigerator in a sealed container, or in my basement where the temperature is a constant 52ºF. Storing your harvested seeds correctly can increase your luck with germination.

Remember, always label the seed well with both Botanical name and Common name to avoid any confusion in the future. Also, add the growing requirements so you don’t have to look it up later.

These figures reflect the number of years before germinating becomes erratic.