Veg seed storage times
If you're a veg grower, you've probably got lots of old seed packets lying around – some opened, some still sealed. Are they still worth sowing?
Moisture and heat are the two factors that will reduce the viability of your seeds. Keep them cool and dry and they will last much longer.
Over time, seed viability decreases. Onions, parsnips and sweetcorn have an especially short shelf life, so are not worth keeping, but cucumbers and beets last for several years.
To sow seed with confidence, try our simple 14-day test:
Here's our guide to how long seeds can last, if stored in optimum conditions.
One year
· Lettuce
· Onions
· Parsnips
· Sweetcorn
Two years
· Carrots
· Celery
· Leeks
· Peppers
· Swedes/turnips
Three years
· Beans
· Peas
· Salad leaves
· Spinach
· Swiss chard
· Tomatoes
Four years
· Aubergines
· Brassicas
· Courgettes
· Radishes
Five years
· Beetroot
· Cucumbers
