How Long Do Seeds Last? A Crop-by-Crop Chart, the Germination Test and When to Toss Old Seed

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How long do seeds last? Most vegetable seeds stay good for about 1 to 6 years, depending on the crop and how you store them. Virginia Cooperative Extension lists lettuce at 6 years, but onion, parsley and parsnip at only 1. Keep seed cold and dry and many packets beat those averages. Leave them in a hot garage and they can fade in a single summer.

Below you’ll find a seed-life chart for 35 vegetables, what shortens or stretches those numbers, a simple germination test you can run on the kitchen counter, and clear rules for when to toss old seed. Still choosing which crops to stock? Our survival food seeds guide covers 12 strong picks for a long-term garden.

How long do seeds last? A chart by crop

The years below come from Virginia Cooperative Extension’s publication “Seed for the Garden,” which lists the average number of years seed of each vegetable may be saved. Find your crop, then check the packet date.

Average seed life	Crops
1 year	Onion, parsley, parsnip
2 years	Sweet corn, leek, okra, pepper
3 years	Asparagus, bean, broccoli, carrot, celery, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, pea, spinach
4 years	Beet, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, kale, mustard, pumpkin, rutabaga, squash, tomato, turnip
5 years	Collard, cucumber, endive, muskmelon, radish, watercress
6 years	Lettuce

Treat these as averages, not expiration dates. Colorado State University Extension says vegetable and flower seeds may be kept for one year without much drop in germination, and that storage can stretch to 10 or more years under proper conditions. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension puts beet, cucumber, eggplant, muskmelon and tomato among the long-lived seeds that may stay viable for more than five years.

The clock may have started before you bought it

Here’s a detail most people miss. Virginia Extension notes that seed companies may hold seed for up to its viability period before it’s sold. So when you ask how long do seeds last in your drawer, count from the original package date on the packet, not the day it showed up in your mailbox. Virginia Extension recommends labeling stored seed with the species name and that original package date.

What shortens seed life (and what stretches it)

Colorado State Extension says seed moisture and storage temperature are the most important factors in how long seed can be stored. The drier the seeds are, the longer they keep. Utah State University Extension agrees: cooler temperatures and low humidity mean a longer shelf life.

What shortens it

• Humid air. Colorado State gives a stark example: at 15 percent relative humidity, seed dries down to 6 percent moisture and stores safely for several years. At 90 percent humidity, it only dries to 19 percent moisture, and germination will be poor after one year.
• Heat. UNL Extension says a shelf in the garage, basement or laundry room is not a good storage spot, since seed there gets hit with summer heat and humidity.
• Freezing and thawing over and over. University of Delaware Extension warns that freeze and thaw cycles can damage seeds.
• Being an onion or a parsnip. Cornell’s Small Farms Program says onion-family and parsnip seed often lose germination by 50% each year, regardless of conditions.

What stretches it

• The “100 rule.” Cornell and the University of Delaware both say that if temperature (°F) plus relative humidity (%) adds up to less than 100, storage conditions are good. 50°F at 50% humidity just squeaks in.
• Cold storage. UNL says seeds do best around 35°F, and at least below 55 to 60°F. Colorado State says good storage means seed below 8 percent moisture and kept below 40 degrees.
• Vacuum packing plus the freezer. Utah State says vacuum-packed seed kept frozen may last up to 20 years, though it’s smart to use it well before then.

Want the full setup, from jars and desiccants to fridge vs freezer? That’s in our seed storage guide. If you’d rather buy a ready-made container, the SeedsNOW Xtra-Large Seed Storage Vault has a vacuum-seal top, is listed as freezer safe and holds about 400 seed packets.

The germination test: know for sure in about a week

The chart gives you averages. A germination test tells you how long do seeds last in your actual conditions, with your actual packets. Virginia Extension’s method is to sprout seed between moist paper towels. University of Illinois Extension and UF/IFAS Extension spell out the steps:

1. Count out 10 seeds. Ten makes the math easy, since each sprout equals 10%.
2. Lay them on a slightly damp paper towel. Illinois Extension warns that if the towel is too wet, the seeds will rot.
3. Fold the towel and bag it. Slip it into a plastic bag labeled with the crop and date. The UF/IFAS writer leaves the bag partly open, which she says helps prevent mold.
4. Keep it warm. Illinois suggests a spot above 70°F, such as the top of the refrigerator. UF/IFAS suggests 75 to 85°F.
5. Check it. UF/IFAS checks at 3 days, then again a few days later, and notes some crops take 10 to 14 days. If the packet doesn’t list a germination time, Illinois says check in 7 to 10 days.
6. Do the math. Seven sprouts out of 10 seeds means 70% germination.

Nothing goes to waste, either. Illinois Extension says you can plant the sprouted seeds, towel and all.

When to toss old seed

The result tells you what to do next. Extension advice lines up like this:

• 70% or better: UF/IFAS calls 70% just fine for old seeds. At 70 to 90%, Illinois says to sow a little thicker than normal.
• Between 50% and 70%: Illinois says below 70% it might be better to buy new seed. Virginia Extension adds that you can also plant extra seed to get the number of plants you want.
• 50% or lower: UNL Extension says any seed at 50% or below should probably be replaced.
• Onion, parsley or parsnip older than a season: with a 1-year average life, plan to buy fresh. A new packet of onion seeds costs less than a lost season.

Buying from SeedsNOW? Know that its Trustpilot page shows a mixed 3.0 out of 5 from about 83 reviews, and the top complaint is seed that didn’t sprout. That’s a good reason to run the paper towel test on any new seed as soon as it arrives, from any company, so you have time to replace a weak batch before planting season.

Why seed life matters for a backup garden

Knowing the answer to how long do seeds last only helps if you check your own packets. A seed stash you never test is a guess, and you don’t want to learn it failed in the spring you actually need it. Test a few packets each winter, replace the weak ones, and keep the short-lived crops fresh.

Also be honest about timing. Even perfect seed takes a full season to turn into food. Stored food covers that gap. The 4-Week Emergency Food Supply from My Patriot Supply feeds one person for four weeks, or a family of four for one week, with a shelf life of up to 25 years when stored properly. It needs about 9 gallons of water to prepare the whole supply, so plan for that too. New to stored food? Start with long-term food storage for beginners.

Frequently asked questions

Do seeds expire?

Not like food does. Seeds don’t spoil on a set date; they slowly lose the ability to sprout. Colorado State Extension says most vegetable and flower seed holds up for one year with little loss, and much longer under proper storage.

How long do seeds last at room temperature?

Cornell’s Small Farms Program says many seeds keep good germination for three years even in a kitchen cupboard, with exceptions like onions and parsnips. Cooler and drier storage helps them go longer.

How long do seeds last in the freezer?

Utah State Extension says vacuum-packed seed kept frozen may last up to 20 years. University of Delaware Extension adds that freezing works well only if seeds are dry, and repeated freeze and thaw cycles can damage them.

Can I still plant 10-year-old seeds?

Maybe. Colorado State says storage can reach 10 or more years under proper conditions, but old packets kept in a warm drawer may be mostly dead. Run the 10-seed paper towel test before you count on them.

The bottom line

So, how long do seeds last? Usually 1 to 6 years, depending on the crop, and longer if you keep them cold, dry and sealed. Use the chart to know which packets to watch, test a few seeds every winter, replace anything at 50% or lower, and buy onions, parsley and parsnips fresh. Then back the garden with stored food so your family eats while the seeds do their work.

Sources: Virginia Cooperative Extension, Seed for the Garden, Colorado State University Extension, Storing Vegetable and Flower Seeds, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Saving and Storing Garden Seeds, Utah State University Extension, Saving Seeds in Hard Times, University of Delaware Extension, Storing Vegetable Seed, Cornell Small Farms Program, How Long Do Seeds Last?, University of Illinois Extension, Test Seed Viability, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, A Test to Check the Germination Rate of Old Seeds, Trustpilot, SeedsNOW reviews. Product details are from SeedsNOW product listings as of November 3, 2026, and My Patriot Supply product pages as of October 27, 2026.