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Home » Gardening How To » Seed Starting

Do Seeds Expire? Can I Plant Expired Garden Seeds?

Last Modified: May 17, 2023 by Mary Ward · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

Do Seeds Expire? Can I Plant Expired Garden Seeds? pinterest image.
Do Seeds Expire? Can I Plant Expired Garden Seeds? pinterest image.
Do Seeds Expire? Can I Plant Expired Garden Seeds? pinterest image.

When you look at the packets your garden seeds come in, you’ll see that they all have a date on them. Usually, this date will say something like, “Packed for 2023 Season” or “Packed in 2022”. To many of us, this implies an expiration date. It looks like the expiration dates or “best by” dates we see on food and perishable products like supplements and medications.

Seeds left from a previous growing year are not expired
All the leftover seeds...Do these dates mean they're expired?
Jump to:
  • Are “Packed” Dates the Same as Expiration Dates?
  • Are “Sell By” Dates the Same as Expiration Dates on Seed Packages?
  • Can I Plant “Expired” or Out-of-Date Seeds? Will They Grow?

Are “Packed” Dates the Same as Expiration Dates?

Packed For 2022 on a seed package does not mean it has to be planted that year
Note: The "Packed For" date on this package of seeds is not an expiration date. It only tells you when the seeds were packaged.

“Packed in” or “Packed for” means that seed company processed and packaged the seeds for the year that is listed in the date. So, for example, if a date says “Packed for 2023” it simply means that the seed company grew and processed those seeds with the intention that they would be sold and used in the 2023 season.

But “Packed for” dates are not the same as expiration dates.

These dates simply say what year the seed was packed in or for. It means the seed company intends for the seeds to be planted this year for the best viability. Packed on/for dates do not mean that the seeds will expire after that date. It’s really telling you when the seed company packaged them and what year they plan for them to be sold. In fact, most types of seeds last far longer than one year.

Are “Sell By” Dates the Same as Expiration Dates on Seed Packages?

A combined "Packed for" and "Sell By" date on a seed package.
This seed company puts a "Packed For" and "Sell By" date on their package.

Sell by dates are not expiration dates, either. They are a date to guide the sellers so that they are only selling the freshest and highest quality seeds.

Seeds don’t “go bad”, but they do have lower germination rates as they get older. In the first year, you might get 90% of the seeds in a package to sprout and grow; the next year, you might only get 80% (this all depends on the type of seed and how it’s been stored).

Sell By dates on seed packages are for store inventory. Seeds are still good for planting after that date.
"Sell By" tells stores when the seed company wants their product off store shelves. The seeds are still good for you, though!

Seed companies want the best possible product going out to their customers, so they list a sell-by date to make sure the seeds are only sold at their peak. Those companies will get a bad name if their customers buy seed and only a fraction of it grows. The sell-by date is usually set for a month late in the growing season or at the end of the year. Just like “Sell-by” dates on food and goods in the grocery store, this date just means the company wants it off store shelves by that time; it doesn’t mean the product is no longer good.

Can I Plant “Expired” or Out-of-Date Seeds? Will They Grow?

It's good to know how old your seeds are but you should save money and plant stored seed
Almost all types of seed will last for more than one year. You can and should use your leftover seed and save money in your garden. Just know the types of seed that aren't worth planting after they are a year old (hint: there are only a few).

Most types of seed will be fine to grow in the next year or years after their “packed for,” “packed on,” or “sell by” dates, so yes, you can plant these seeds after their “expiration” dates (which we now know are not really expiration dates at all). Those dates are helpful so that you know how old the seeds are, and you can then decide when they are too old for planting.

How do you know when seeds are too old to plant?

That all depends on the seed. Different types of seed last for different lengths of time. Onions, for example, should only be planted the year that they are packed and sold. Beans, peas, tomatoes, peppers, and others are known to last for a long time. Of course, that depends on you storing them well in a cool, dry place.

Seeds are stored in a plastic box system  to keep them viable for several years
If they are stored well in a cool, dry place most garden seeds can be used for two years or more. Some types last longer than others.

You can find more information on how to store extra seeds and how long you can plant them for in this article.

More Seed Starting

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    3 Key Things to Know Before You Start Garden Seeds
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    8 Things to Do Early to Gear Up for Seed Starting
  • Herb seed packages.
    5 Types of Seeds You Need to Start Earlier Than You Think
  • DIY Wildflower Seed Mix in paper bags
    How to Collect and Create Your Own DIY Wildflower Seed Mix

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Comments

  1. Deb Southward

    March 03, 2023 at 1:20 am

    What did you use to store the seeds in … the multicolor plastic boxes … look like photo boxes ?

    Reply
    • Mary Ward

      March 08, 2023 at 6:57 pm

      Yes. The photo storage box units that are available from Amazon or at most craft stores. Those colored boxes fit into a larger carry case. Great for keeping seeds! (In fact we will have an article about it coming up soon, so stay tuned!)

      Reply

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