How long will seeds keep ? | The Enduring Gardener

Seedy Stuff
29th January 2014 • Stephanie's Blog • Stephanie Donaldson
I’ve sorted through my stash of seeds before I put in this year’s order so that I only buy what is needed rather than succumbing to the myriad temptations of the seed catalogues. I’ve thrown out anything that’s too old because it’s a waste of seed compost when you sow old seeds and get poor germination and I’ve set aside surplus seeds to give to friends.

Sorting Old Seeds

If you have opened packets of seeds left over from last year (or even further back) it’s useful to know which will still germinate well and which won’t. Of course it all depends how they have been stored, but the following list will give you a fairly good idea.

How long will seeds keep ?

Beetroot                      4 years

Brassicas                     3-5 years

Beans                          1 year

Carrots                        3 years

Celeriac                       6 years

Celery 6 years

Chard                          4 years

Cucumbers                  7 years

Leeks                           3 years

Lettuce                        3 years

Onion                          4 years

Parsley 1 year

Parsnip must be fresh

Peas                            1 year

Pumpkin                      7 years

Spinach                       1 year

Squash 7 years

Swedes                        1 year