Yes, you can keep seeds for years, but it depends on the type of seed.
The shelf life of seeds varies greatly. Some seeds, such as onions, can be kept for years, while others, such as watermelons, only last for a few months. The best way to extend the shelf life of your seeds is to store them in a cool, dry place. For long-term storage, you can keep them in the refrigerator or freezer.
The three main types of seeds are annual, biennial, and perennial.
Annuals
As the name suggests, annuals live for one season, blooming and producing seeds before they die. Many popular ornamental flowers are annuals, including impatiens, petunias, and marigolds. Because annuals complete their life cycles so quickly, they are often easy to grow from seed.
Biennials
Biennials live for two years. In the first year, they produce leaves and store energy in their roots. During the second year, they bloom and set seed. Some biennials are grown as annuals because they don’t tend to produce blooms until the second year (think of how lovely your grandmother’s heirloom foxgloves were). Others, like sweet William and hollyhocks, can be short-lived perennials in favorable climates.
Perennials
Perennials live for many years—in some cases, for centuries! Because they come back each year, perennials are generally a lower-maintenance option than annuals or biennials. Once they’re established, most just need a little water and fertilizer to keep them looking their best.
Annual seeds will only last one year, while biennial seeds will last two years.
If you want your seeds to last as long as possible, store them in a cool, dry place. You can put them in a zip-top bag or an airtight container, and then put them in the refrigerator. You can also store seeds in a moisture-proof container in the freezer.
Perennial seeds can last up to five years if stored properly.
Perennial seeds can last up to five years if stored properly. Annual seeds should be planted within a year, as they do not store well. To extend the life of your annual seeds, keep them in a cool, dark place until you are ready to plant them. You can also store them in the refrigerator, but be sure to check on them occasionally to make sure they have not dried out.
To store seeds properly, you need to keep them dry, dark, and cool.
How long do seeds last? Most seeds are still viable for years, as long as they are stored properly. The viability of a seed is the percentage of seeds that will germinate under optimal conditions. Seeds can remain viable for many years if they are stored properly – in a cool and dry place. However, over time there is a gradual loss in germination rates. For example, after 5 years, the germination rates of most vegetable seeds are only about 60-70%. After 10 years, the rates drop to 50-60%.
To store seeds properly, you need to keep them dry, dark, and cool. A good way to do this is to store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. You can also store them in a cool, dark place such as a basement or closet.
Ideally, you should label your containers with the name of the seed and the date you stored them. That way, you’ll know exactly how old they are when you go to use them.
Remember that not all seeds will last for years. Some only have a short shelf life and will need to be replanted every year or two. These include annual flowers such as impatiens and petunias, as well as vegetables such as squash, cucumber, and pumpkin. If you’re not sure how long a particular type of seed will last, check with your local extension office or search online for more information.
You can store seeds in a sealed container, such as a Mason jar, or in a zip-top bag.
You can store seeds in a sealed container, such as a Mason jar, or in a zip-top bag. Place the container in a cool, dry place. Check the seeds every few months to make sure they haven’t developed mold or mildew. You can store most seeds for up to five years.
If you want to store seeds for more than one year, you should label the container with the date and type of seed.
If you want to store seeds for more than one year, you should label the container with the date and type of seed. The storage life of a given seed depends on its genetic resistance to dormancy breakage, temperature, humidity and light exposure. Good seed-storage conditions are cool and dry; most seeds will keep better if they are refrigerated at about 34 degrees Fahrenheit.
You should also check on the seeds periodically to make sure they are still viable.
Seeds are living things and, as such, degrade over time. The older the seed, the lower the germination rate will be. Even if you store your seeds properly, you should expect them to lose some vigor each year. For most annual flowers and vegetables, you can get by with storing seeds for two to three years. For biennials and perennials, four to five years is probably the max. After that, you might get lucky and have a few germinate, but it’s better to just start fresh.