Seeds, Seeds, Seeds!  We buy packs of seed and only use a small portion.  What so we do with the rest?  How long will they last? We have a few suggestions to help you store your seed for the future the right way, so you get the most out of your money and how long each type will last!

Seeds should be kept in a cool and dark place in their original packaging.  Cool temperatures are below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and should stay relatively stable.  Temperatures that rise and fall shorten the life of your seeds. We store our seeds in a cooler, in the original packages, inside an airtight container to control the moisture. We group our seeds, such as cool season and warm season.  Moisture content in the seed itself will greatly affect germination rates.  When bringing out of the cooler, let stand at room temperature before opening airtight containers so moisture will not form.  Refrigerators are fine to store seeds in, but it's best to not place in the freezer.

Vegetable Seed Longevity When Seeds Are Stored Properly

• Artichokes         4-5 years
• Arugula     3 years
• Beans      3 years
• Beets     3 years
• Broccoli      3 years
• Brussels Sprouts     3-4 years
• Cabbage     4 years
• Carrots     2-3 years
• Cauliflower     3 years
• Celery     5 years
• Chard      3 years
• Collards     5 years
• Corn     2 years
• Cress     5 years
• Cucumbers     5 years
• Eggplant     3 years
• Endive     5 years
• Fennel     4 years
• Kale     4 years
• Kohlrabi     4 years
• Leeks     1  year
• Lettuce      4 years
• Melons     5 years
• Mustard     4 years
• Okra     2 years
• Onions     1 year
• Peas     3 years
• Peanuts     1-2 years
• Peppers     1-2 years
• Pumpkins    4 years
• Radish     5 years
• Rutabagas     5 years
• Spinach     2-3 years
• Summer Squash     4 years
• Tomatoes     4 years
• Tomatillo    2 years
• Watermelon 4 years
• Winter Squash 4 years