Seed Viability Chart

How long Seeds Last

Viability is the life that is in the seeds. Each seed has a finite amount of life that will allow the seed to germinate and grow into a seedling. When this finite life has expired, the seed is dead and will not germinate.

The length of viability isn’t a hard and fast rule. Many things affect the viability of seeds. Such as improper storage, moisture, sunlight, heat, cold, and lack of air. Even issues with the parent plant such as not getting the right nutrients, water, or sunlight during the seed maturation process can negatively affect the viability of the seeds produced.

The sell-by date on the seed package is NOT how long the seed will last. Every species will be viable for a different length of time. Most seeds will last for at least 1-2 years, while others will last for many years.

In the below vegetable, herb, and flower charts there are some that have “best guess”. The “best guess” is just that. Typically when a reliable source for viability isn’t found, the “best guess” is based on the viability of other seeds in the same family. Other times it is due to the seed being so new to the US that there is a lack of research that has been done on viability like the goji berry.

Vegetable Viability Chart


Vegetable	Years
Arugula	5
Asparagus Beans	5
Bean, Green	4
Bean, Pinto	4
Beet	5
Bok Choy	4
Broccoli	4-5
Broccoli, Chinese	4-5
Brussels Sprouts	3-5
Cabbage	4
Cabbage, Chinese	3-5
Carrot	3
Cauliflower	5
Celery	4-5
Chicory	4-5
Collards	4-5
Corn	4-5
Cowpeas (Black-eyed peas)	3
Cress	5
Cucumber	5-8
Eggplant	4-5
Endive	5
Goji Berry	Best guess 3
Gourds	3-6
Kale	4
Kohlrabi	4
Leeks	2-3
Lentil	1-2
Lettuce	3
Lima Bean	4
Melon	3-6
Melon, Cantaloupe	5
Melon, Jelly (Kiwano)	Best Guess 5 years (Note: I had trouble getting one-year-old seeds to germinate. Viability might only be one year.)
Mustard	4-5
Okra	4
Onion	1-2
Onion, Shallot	1-2
Parsnip	1-3
Pea	2
Pepper	2-3
Popcorn	3
Pumpkin	5
Radish	4-5
Rutabaga	3-5
Soybean	3-5
Spinach	2-3
Squash, Delicata	5
Squash, North GA Candy Roaster	5
Squash, Spaghetti	5
Swiss Chard	5
Tomatillo	6
Tomato	4
Turnip	4-5
Watermelon	5
Wax Melon (Winter melon)	Best Guess 5
Zucchini	5

Printable Vegetable Chart

Flower Viability Chart


Flower	Years
Alyssum	4
Amaranthus	4-5
Aster	1-2
Aster, New England Aster novae-angliae	1
Bachelor Buttons	3-5
Balloon Flower Platycodon grandiflorus	Best guess 3
Bee Balm	3
Bells of Ireland	2
black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)	2
Butterfly Pea	Best guess 3
Butterfly Weed (Milkweed) Asclepias	2-3
Calendula	3
Carnation	3-5
Chinese Lantern	1
Chrysanthemum	3
Cockscomb (Celosia)	3-5
Columbine	2
Coneflower (Echinacea)	3
Coreopsis	2-3
Cosmos	5
Daisy	3
Daisy, African	3
Daisy, Shasta	3
Dianthus	3-5
Four-O-Clock	3-5
Forget-Me-Not	2
Forget-Me-Not, Chinese	2
Gaillardia	2
Ganzania	3-5
Gloriosa Daisy (Rudbeckia)	3-5
Gomphrena	1-2
Gypsophila (Baby’s Breath)	2-4
Hollyhock	3-5
Impatiens	2
Larkspur	1-3
Lobelia	3
Lupine	3-4
Marigold	4
Mexican Sunflower Tithonia rotundifolia	3-4
Moonflower	2
Morning Glory	3-4
Nasturtium	3-6
Nicotiana	3
Pansy	2
Petunia	5
Phlox	3
Poppy	3
Portulaca (Rose Moss)	3
Salpiglossis	3-5
Salvia	1-2
Scabiosa	3
Snapdragon	3-4
Statice	2
Strawflower	2
Sunflower	3-4
Sweet Pea	2-4
Tritoma	3-5
Venidium	3
Verbena	1-5
Wallflower	3
Yarrow	3-5
Zinnia	3-5

Printable Flower Chart

Herb Viability Chart


Herb	Years
Anise	1-3
Balsam	2-5
Basil	5
Borage	4
Caraway	3-4
Catnip	3-5
Chamomile	4
Chervil	1-4
Chives	1-2
Cilantro	1-4
Cumin	1-3
Dill	3
Epazote	3
Fennel	1-3
Goji Berry	Best Guess 3
Hyssop	1-4
Lavender	4
Lemon Balm	4-5
Lemon Grass	3
Lovage	1-3
Marjoram	3
Mexican Mint Marigold	4
Mint	4
Oregano	2-4
Parsley	2-3
Rosemary	1-4
Sage	1-3
Savory	3
Thyme	3

Printable Herb Chart

Ornamental Viability Chart


Ornamental	Years
Caster Bean	2-3

Trees and Shrubs Viability Chart


Trees and Shrubs	Years
Goji Berry	Best Guess 3
Staghorn Sumac	Best Guess 5

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I place my seeds in the freezer?

Freezing will damage the viability. It’s better to store in a cool, dry place if you are using the seeds for planting like a pantry. Some seeds will need cold stratification to break dormancy. However, this is done in the refrigerator and only for a set time period specific to that seed, it’s not for storage.

For example, pansy seeds are sown into cells and placed in the refrigerator for 2 weeks. After which, they are placed under grow lights.

How do I do a Germination Test?

To check the percentage of seeds that are still viable and will germinate, perform the following steps.

Dampen a paper towel. Squeeze any liquid from the paper towel. If it’s too wet, the seeds will rot. Place 10 seeds on the paper towel.
Place the paper towel with the seeds on it in a plastic bag to keep it from drying out. If the seeds don’t require light to germinate, you can fold the paper towel over the seeds.
Write the date, germination time, and type of seed on the plastic bag. You can find the germination time on the seed bag. Most seeds germinate in 7-10 days.
Leave in a warm place (above 70 F), like a sunny window. Based on the germination rate, check the seeds in a few days to see if they have germinated.
Once they’ve started to germinate, remove the paper towel from the bag and carefully unfold it to see how many have germinated.

You can plant the germinated seed, paper towel, and all into the garden or a container.

The number of how many germinated is the percentage of seeds still viable. If the germination rate is around 70% or lower, you will want to sow more heavily to make up for the lower germination rate. If it’s less than 50%, you may want to purchase additional seed.¹

What is the Sell-By Date?

It is NOT the viability date. The sell-by date is the date the seeds were harvested. This allows you to know how old the seeds are. Some seed packages will even give the month in addition to the year they were harvested.