Well, we’ve been talking around it…so let’s get into it! Let’s discuss short shelf life seeds and the topic of seed viability! It’s an issue us long term gardeners face and while it’s sort of boring, it’s also essential “from seed” knowledge.
Put simply, seeds have a shelf life and that shelf life is called seed viability. It’s the estimation of germination rates based on the seed’s age. Some are short (a year), whereas some are quite long. (5+ years)
The “short shelf life” seeds are of particular concern. Onions, leeks, corn and parsnip only last about a year. The same is true for some herbs like caraway, chives, lavender and lovage. There’s also a number of flower seeds that feature very short shelf lives as well.
Now, it’s important to understand that seed viability doesn’t go to zero by that “best by” date. It’s a sliding scale where you’ll get fewer and fewer levels of successful seed germinations as the seeds age past that viability date. At some point, though, viability does drop off a cliff.
If your seeds are approaching their age limits, you can counter it up to a certain point. Many gardeners will simply sow 2 or 3 seeds per plant they want to raise. If they’re really old, they might sow even more. And, of course, you run the risk of getting skunked, too!
There’s also wisdom in replacing seeds that are getting old, too, as it’ll reduce germination issues. This is why we write the purchase year on our seed packets. When we notice a seed variety from the prior decade? Well, we figure we got our money’s worth!
This topic is quite extensive, which is why we developed a feature article on the topic. In the comments, you’ll find a link that discusses it a lot more and also provides seed viability charts across all the common veggies, herbs and flowers. Check it out if you’re ready to dig in!
