How Long Are Seeds Viable

To keep the seeds cool (ideally, below 50 degrees), some people store them in a jar in their refrigerator or freezer. Seeds in good condition and stored properly will last at least one year and, depending on the plant, may last two to five years.

How Old Can seeds be and still germinate?

Most seeds, though not all, will keep for at least three years while maintaining a decent percentage of germination. And even a group of very old seeds may have 10 or 20 percent that still sprouts.

What is the longest time that a seed has remained viable?

The oldest carbon-14-dated seed that has grown into a viable plant was Silene stenophylla (narrow-leafed campion), an Arctic flower native to Siberia. Radiocarbon dating has confirmed an age of 31,800 ±300 years for the seeds.