Old seed packets-do they expire?

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HisWifeTiff Centralia, MO May 28, 2008

I have some old (2-4 years old) packets of seeds that I found tucked into a drawer. Is it a waste to try them now? Some are vegetables/fruits, some are flowers.
Thank you!

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Smokey_SC Piedmont, SC(Zone 7b) May 28, 2008

You can always try all of them. After 2 yrs they are pretty much gone.

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) May 29, 2008

Some seeds can actually hold on for a lot longer than that. So if they're things you really want and you don't mind spending some time and possibly not getting good (or any) germination then it's worth giving them a try, but if you don't have time to waste and want a sure thing, I'd order some fresh ones. If you want the low-effort approach to seeing if there's any life left in them, you can always start them in a damp paper towel first, then if they sprout put them in some seed-starting mix. But if you get nothing from the paper towel test then you know they're no good anymore.

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HisWifeTiff Centralia, MO May 29, 2008

how long in the paper towel? For the amount of germination time the packet says?

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ly057 Port Saint Lucie, FL(Zone 9b) May 29, 2008

i grew some cotton from a seed that was sitting in a drawer in its puff of cotton for at least 5 years.

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AmyDawn Charleston, WV May 30, 2008

I started my first sweet peas in 2005 that were dated 2002. They did well, and I got them 4 packs for $1.00!

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