Dates on veg seed packets

Recently bought a variety of veg seeds that have sow by 2026/27.
Question will they still be viable after 3 years in a packet that has remained closed?

 

It very much depends on what the veg plant is...

 

Should be, but I wouldn't chance it, too much time effort and money at stake if they don't germinate.

 

Some will be fine and some won't - for example, tomato seeds last for a very long time, whereas lettuce doesn't. It also depends on how many seeds are in the packet, and therefore how many you would use in the time frame.

 

Yes and unfortunately there is no obvious logic, you can't tell just by size of seed. Another example similar to those mentioned by @fairygirl , Runner bean seeds, last many years French beans, need to be fresh or no more than two years for reliable results. I can't remember the detail but I think if you put seed viability into a Web search there are lists available.

 

I remember you telling me about the lettuce a long time ago @Allotment Boy . You get so many seeds that I'd need to be feeding the entire neighbourhood to use up the contents of a packet!
I had trouble with germination, and after you mentioning that the seed needed to be fresh, I bought more, sowed in the same compost etc, and had no problem.
I also allow a plant or two to grow on and go to seed, so that I can collect it, and that's worked well with one called Deronda that I like. Tight Scot

 

Storage conditions will be critical. Unopened packets should last better than part used, especially if the opened ones are left in greenhouse or trouser pockets where they may be subject to temperature , humidity changes etc. Personally buy most used varieties each year, using up any surplus as microgreens during autumn/winter when they are suitable (lettuce, brassicaes,onion, leek, beet,spinach,peas,sunflowers)

 

When Possum came back to live with us during the Covid mess her furniture and kitchen goodies came too so I have adopted her fridge freezer. The whole top shelf of the fridge is full of tupperwares containing seeds.

Doesn't guarantee success tho as I had poor germination with tomatoes and chillies this year despite good compost and heat mats. On the other hands, assorted brassicas, chards, beets, coriander and mints did very well, as did the curcubits.

 

When I visited Kew at Wakehurst Place and we visited the Seed depository, my recollection is that a)cool is good for majority
b) cold is good for 85%
c) very cold is ok for some but not all
d)humidity is critical for most, variations in humidity/temperature have the fastest decay effect.
e)some species essential to experience extremes but vary infinitely.
Nature doesn't do simple.....

 

It does seem strange that even tropical seeds can be stored longer if cold, but the cold they use is a lot colder than you average refrigerator.

 

Thank you all. Some very interesting replies.

 

After some poor results so far this season I have dumped my Tomato, Runner & French beans seeds and bought fresh.
Ok, it could be a poor season here weather wise.