Will Old Seeds Germinate?

Will old seeds germinate? The older a seed gets, the chances lower on it germinating. Some seeds only last a year, but storing seeds in a dry, dark place will positively affect how long they last. Because of temperature and weather changes throughout the year, it is not recommended to store seeds in a shed or garage. I store my seeds in their package in a wooden box in the house.

I have a few old packets of seeds, probably around ~4-7 years old. There’s no need to worry about quality or nutrition when it comes to using old seeds. The plants that grow will be just as good as plants grown from newer seeds. That’s why it can’t hurt to try to germinate old seeds if you’ve got them.

Instead of just winging it by directly sowing old seeds in your garden, there’s an easy low maintenance solution. Test if the old seeds will germinate with water, paper towels, and a ziploc bag.

The seeds I’m testing are honeydew, pearl onions, radishes, snap peas, and sweet peppers.

Place your seeds on a damp paper towel.

Fold or roll up the paper towel and place it in the ziploc bag.

Let the seeds sit for about 5 days.

At the 5 day mark, check if the seeds have germinated.

If your seeds have sprouted, gently remove them from the paper towel. You can plant them directly in your garden or in a planter. Make a little hole in the soil and place the sprouted seed root side down. Cover the seed with a small amount of soil and let it grow!

I only had luck with the radishes and snap peas. There were no changes with the honeydew, onion, or sweet pepper seeds. I planted the radishes and snap peas in peat pellets because I got a little ahead of myself and the garden isn’t quite ready for direct planting yet. The peat pellets will help them grow until I’m ready to plant.

So, will old seeds germinate? It depends on the age and proper storage of the seed. Keeping seeds in a cool, dark place will prolong their viability. A quick experiment with just water, paper towels, and a ziploc bag will set your old seeds – and your garden – up for success.

What are you growing in your garden this year? Have you checked out my other post about starting seeds in peat pellets?

Looking for new seeds?  I highly recommend The Gardening World!