Planting Old Seeds: Can They Still Grow?

When you find a packet of seeds tucked away in a drawer or shed, you might wonder: planting old seeds, the practice of sowing seeds past their printed expiration date. Is it worth it, or are you just wasting time and soil? The truth? It depends. Some seeds last years—others die within months. What matters isn’t the date on the packet, but how they were stored and what kind of seeds they are.

seed viability, how likely a seed is to sprout after being stored drops over time, but not evenly. Tomato and pepper seeds can stay alive for 4–5 years if kept dry and cool. Beans and peas? Often good for 3 years. But lettuce, onion, and parsnip seeds? They’re fragile. Even in perfect conditions, they lose power after just one year. seed storage, the way seeds are kept before planting makes a huge difference. Heat, moisture, and light kill seeds faster than time alone. A dark, dry drawer in your kitchen? Probably not ideal. A sealed jar in the fridge? That’s the sweet spot.

Before you dig a hole, test your old seeds. Put 10 of them on a damp paper towel, fold it over, and tuck it in a plastic bag. Leave it on a warm windowsill for a week. If half sprout, you’ve got a 50% germination rate—still worth planting, just sow thicker. If only one or two come up? Skip them. germination rates, the percentage of seeds that successfully sprout tell you more than any expiration date ever could. And don’t assume all old seeds are dead. Gardeners have grown squash from 10-year-old packets and lettuce from 7-year-old ones. It’s not magic—it’s science.

Some seeds actually need age to work. Certain wildflowers and trees have hard shells that break down slowly over time. Cold stratification—mimicking winter—can wake up dormant seeds that look dead. But for most home gardeners, it’s simpler: test first, plant smart. If you’re saving seeds yourself, label them with the year and store them in airtight containers with a silica gel packet. Keep them cool. Don’t leave them in a hot garage or a sunny windowsill.

Below, you’ll find real advice from gardeners who’ve tried planting old seeds. Some succeeded. Some failed. All of them learned something. Whether you’re clearing out your seed stash, found a forgotten packet at a yard sale, or want to save your own harvest, these posts give you the no-nonsense facts you need. No fluff. Just what works—and what doesn’t.