Planting & seeds
Are my old seeds still good?
Typical shelf life by crop, from one year for onion and parsnip to five for tomato and cucumber, plus a paper-towel test that settles it.
How this works
Towel test: 10 seeds in a damp paper towel inside a loose bag, somewhere warm, 5–10 days. Cool, dark and dry storage roughly doubles every shelf life.
Questions people ask
How do I test old seed?
Roll ten seeds in a damp paper towel in a bag somewhere warm. Count how many sprout within the crop's normal window. Seven of ten means sow a little thicker; two of ten means buy fresh.
Which seeds go bad fastest?
Onion, leek, parsnip and parsley are done in about a year. Sweet corn and peppers are middling. Tomato, cucumber and the squash family stay good for four or five.
How should I store seed?
Cool, dark and dry, and the dry matters most. A jar with a silica packet in the fridge beats a shed drawer by years.