I'm curious about the shelf life of organic seeds that I've stored in a cool, dark place. Most of them are unopened, with a mix coming from 2011, 2014/2015, 2018, and the most recent batch from 2020-2021. How long can I realistically expect these seeds to remain viable?
3 Answers
It really varies a lot! Some seeds can last for hundreds of years under perfect conditions—like those 1500-year-old Mexican cave beans that were germinated! But your best bet is to test them yourself. I've had seeds that were stored for a decade and still sprouted just fine after being kept dry and in the fridge.
The viability of organic seeds can really depend on the type of seed and how well it's been stored. For example, seeds with a harder shell, like canna lily seeds, tend to last longer than softer seeds like tomatoes, which might dry out quicker. Typically, if you've stored them properly, you can expect most of the softer seeds to last around 10 years. Just make sure they’re kept dry and in a cool place!
If you're looking for a concrete guide, check out this infograph on seed viability: [Seed Viability Guide](https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/infosheet_seed_viability.pdf). It's a good resource that might help you plan how to test those older seeds!