# How long do regular herb garden seeds stay "potent?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 24, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-regular-herb-garden-seeds-stay-potent/816673 "2018-06-24T19:10:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-regular-herb-garden-seeds-stay-potent/816673/1 "2018-06-24T19:10:07Z")
See query. I ordered a bunch of seeds on-line, and found a few packs from last year I forgot about. Are they still good to go? PS: Haven’t they found seeds in archaeology digs, or whatever, which they can just plant and grow? Ie, to generalize the question–how long do plant seeds last at all? ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-regular-herb-garden-seeds-stay-potent/816673/2 "2018-06-24T20:33:25Z")
Some pioneer species have seeds that can last for decades or centuries in the soil, until the right conditions for germination are fulfilled. A friend of mine bought a house with a largely neglected garden, mostly covered with grass and weeds; but wherever she puts her shovel in the dirt and turns it, foxgloves will sprout. _Geranium languinosum_ will only sprout after wildfires (the seed needs temperatures close to 100 C to germinate!); but a wildfire every other century or so is sufficient to keep it! ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-regular-herb-garden-seeds-stay-potent/816673/3 "2018-06-24T20:53:30Z")
Yes, they’ll still grow. You might have slightly lower germination rates, but just a year old? You probably won’t even notice. Make sure you store your seeds somewhere cool, dry and dark. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-regular-herb-garden-seeds-stay-potent/816673/4 "2018-06-24T23:30:52Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > Yes, they’ll still grow. You might have slightly lower germination rates, but just a year old? You probably won’t even notice. Make sure you store your seeds somewhere cool, dry and dark. Agreed … except onions … they’re notorious for low germination rates after a year … Take four or five seeds and put them in between two sheets of paper towel … put this in a pie plate and add a quarter inch water … wait a week or so … this will give you a good idea if the seeds are good and approximately how good … I’d say five years old is our limit … just sow heavier the older the seed is … ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-regular-herb-garden-seeds-stay-potent/816673/5 "2018-06-25T12:47:15Z")
A [seed life chart](https://www.johnnyseeds.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-JSSSharedLibrary/default/dw913ac4d0/assets/information/seed-storage-guide.pdf). Seeds typically maintain viability longest when stored in a cool, dry place. I keep mine in the fridge. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-regular-herb-garden-seeds-stay-potent/816673/6 "2018-06-25T13:06:43Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > Agreed … except onions … they’re notorious for low germination rates after a year … :eek: (Not really). Just when I thought it was safe to go back in the soil…I’ve got seeds for chives. Plus chervil and maybe I’ll order sorrel. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-regular-herb-garden-seeds-stay-potent/816673/7 "2018-06-25T17:21:25Z")
There’s a world seed vault on a northern island in Norway saving as many types of plant seeds as they can, in case of a sudden need for old, heirloom varieties of food plants. They intend to save them for decades, just in case. So I presume it’s possible for seeds to remain viable for that long. (Even though they probably store them more carefully than we could.) ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-regular-herb-garden-seeds-stay-potent/816673/8 "2018-06-25T20:05:13Z")
I don’t know about the Seed Vault, but there’s a seed bank run by UC Davis, and they have a regular schedule of planting out and re-harvesting the seeds. I’m guessing the Seed Vault must have something similar. Although the Seed Vault does store seeds for specific countries, so maybe the countries have the responsibility of updating the seeds. ---
**Author:** ![Mikemike2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikemike2/32/305_2.png) [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-regular-herb-garden-seeds-stay-potent/816673/9 "2018-06-25T21:12:05Z")
I grow herbs from seeds each winter and grow them with hydroponics. They can be very fickle germinating, so I significantly overseed and then thin them out. Once seed that has been crazy hard to germinate is rosemary. I have used 4 different seed packs, and although a few have germinated, I have yet to raise a plant to maturity. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-regular-herb-garden-seeds-stay-potent/816673/10 "2018-06-25T22:09:11Z")
> [@Mikemike2](#): > > . . . Once seed that has been crazy hard to germinate is rosemary. I have used 4 different seed packs, and although a few have germinated, I have yet to raise a plant to maturity. Do you know anyone with a mature plant? I’ve had good luck with rooting clippings. ---
**Author:** ![Mikemike2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikemike2/32/305_2.png) [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-regular-herb-garden-seeds-stay-potent/816673/11 "2018-06-25T22:54:37Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Do you know anyone with a mature plant? I’ve had good luck with rooting clippings. Sure, it is easy to buy seedlings this time of year. But I want to grow one from seed. lol. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-regular-herb-garden-seeds-stay-potent/816673/12 "2018-06-26T09:02:17Z")
Kew Gardens has the Millennium Seed Bank, which they claim constitute the largest and most diverse wild plant species genetic resource in the world. > [@](#): > > The purpose-built facility at Wakehurst is based around a vast vault for the long-term storage of seeds for research and conservation. Following collection in-country, seeds are prepared and dried (to around 4–6% moisture content, fresh-weight basis), before storage in deep-freeze chambers (-18 to -20°C) within the vault; following international standards. > > At present there are more than 87,500 seed collections in the bank; representing over 39,100 species, from almost 5,800 genera and more than 360 families. That is, at least one collection each of around 12.5% of those seed-bearing species estimated to have orthodox, bankable seeds. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-regular-herb-garden-seeds-stay-potent/816673/13 "2018-06-26T19:33:25Z")
> [@Mikemike2](#): > > Sure, it is easy to buy seedlings this time of year. But I want to grow one from seed. lol. Cool. I salute your dream.