Seed Viability Check: are your old seeds still good?
Use the packed-for year on the packet. Onion, leek, parsley, and parsnip seed lasts about 1 year. Pepper, sweet corn, okra, and spinach about 2. Most other vegetables last 3 to 5 years in cool, dry storage. Past that, run a 10-seed paper towel test before you count on a packet.
Are your old seeds still good? Typical seed life by crop from extension tables, a likely good, test first, or replace call by packed-for year, a paper towel germination test log, and a winter seed storage checklist.
How long seeds last: typical years
Year 0 is the packed-for year. Figures are typical for cool, dry storage, using the lowest number where extension tables disagree.
| Typical years | Crops | Likely good in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Onion, leek, parsley, parsnip, salsify | Packed 2026 or later |
| 2 | Pepper, sweet corn, okra, spinach | Packed 2025 or later |
| 3 | Bean, pea, carrot, lettuce, tomato, broccoli, kohlrabi, celery, arugula, bok choy, asparagus | Packed 2024 or later |
| 4 | Beet, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, collards, chard, eggplant, pumpkin, squash, turnip, rutabaga, mustard, watermelon | Packed 2023 or later |
| 5 | Cucumber, melon, radish, endive | Packed 2022 or later |
Up to 2 years past the range: test first. Further past it: replace. Herbs and flowers not listed: about 2 years, test after the first.
Paper towel germination test
Roll 10 seeds in a damp paper towel, slip it in a zip bag, and keep it about 70F to 75F. Count sprouts at day 10, or up to day 21 for carrot, parsley, parsnip, celery, onion, leek, pepper, and asparagus. 80 percent or more: sow normally. 50 to 79 percent: sow thicker. Under 50 percent: buy fresh seed.
Store seed for winter checklist
- Pull every packet into one box and sort by crop
- Add each packet to My seed stash with its packed-for year
- Make sure saved seed is fully dry before it goes in a jar
- Store packets in a sealed glass jar with a desiccant
- Keep the jar cool and dark, about 40F to 50F if you can
- Run a paper towel test on "test first" packets
- List what to replace before you order for spring
Sources
Shop Seeds Now: fresh vegetable seed. Some outbound seed-house links may be affiliate links.