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Q:
How long are old garden vegetable seeds still usable? Packed for "--" season?
A:
Most seed packets state the year of intended use, usually on the top or bottom flap, and many also list minimum germination standards and usual seed life. That's a good place to start when determining whether or not you can use seeds from past seasons.
Seeds that have been stored in a cool, dry place are generally viable for at least a year past the season for which they were packaged and may be good for up to five years.
See some related articles below for more information.
Related content
Credit: Lynn Ketchum (Cropped from original)
Seed packet info is a gardener's guide
Seed packets have helpful information that assists vegetable gardeners in making the best choices for particular situations whether the goal is increased production, disease resistance, seed saving or quick maturity.
Nicole Sanchez |Feb 2020 |Article
Seize some seeds from the garden for planting next year
The key to saving seed is selecting open-pollinated or heirloom plants, which produce offspring with the same traits.
Kym Pokorny |Oct 1, 2021 |News story
Credit: Amanda Loman (Cropped from original)
A step-by-step guide to saving seeds
Saving the seeds of fruits, vegetables and flowers is an excellent way to engage in the worldwide movement to preserve some of the older “heirloom” varieties of seed. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it.
Maud Powell |Mar 2010 |Article
Start your own vegetables from seeds
Learn about starting vegetables from seeds. Start inside small pots in the early spring and then move them to larger pots as they grow. Use the right soil, pots, and lights to produce healthy plants! Growing Your Own: https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/em9027
Brooke Edmunds |Jun 2020 |Video
Credit: Lynn Ketchum (Cropped from original)
When to start seeds indoors in Oregon
Wondering when to plant vegetables? Use this handy table to figure out the optimum time.
Jul 2018 |Article
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