Daft question maybe, but do seeds 'keep' for a long time if unopened?

[crushedintherush]

I have some seeds left over that have not been used, and I haven't got room to grow anything else. I plan to start seed sowing again in the new year, so will these be ok?

There are also some seeds I want to buy for next year, so is it worth buying now, or waiting until the winter? Are seeds cheaper then?

They usually have a plant by date - it's usually more than a year ahead. But they aren't that expensive.

They usually have a plant by date - it's usually more than a year ahead. But they aren't that expensive.

Sorry, meant to say, many thanks in advance :)

Bother, duplicate and I'm going to add - no real savings unless maybe if they will go over their plant by date before next season!

The price doesn't usually vary, though you quite often get bogof deals later in the season.

Sow by date is usually a couple of years after the seasin you bought them in, so if you bought them this year they will be good for a few years yet, as they are generally ok after the sow by date. You could always try planting a few to see if they germinate. They don't go off as such, but may not germinate if getting on in years. eg I had some sweetcorn that was plant before 2012; I bunged a few in a pot and only one has germinated. No sweetcorn for me this year then!!

Thanks DrSpouse, the ones I have are in clear plastic bags and instructions, no plant by date.

I will wait until early next year now anyway, thanks for replying :)

Thanks lackadaisical, I'll look out for bogof deals :)

Depends a bit on the plant - some stay viable longer than others anyway. Also how you store the seeds - cool, dark, dry place is usually best. I've grown some seeds which were a few years old - some came up, some didn't.

Monty Don recommends keeping seeds in the fridge iirc.

Carrots and parsnips lose potency first. Then onions. But they don't just all stop at once, you just get less percentage germination as the years go on.

They germinated a pea found in the pyramids, after thousands of years. Never throw seeds away, if anything just bung them in the soil and leave them a month and if nothing happens then nothing lost.

Keep all seeds in the fridge in a sealed Tupperware container.

Ignore any dates on packets they indicate a period of optimum germination and are usually a similar whereas in reality different seeds differ vastly. For example parsnips are very short lived but I usually get two years out of a packet. Others can stay viable for 100's of years.

What FunkyBoldRibena said. You'll just get fewer of them actually germinating the older they get.

I have them stored in the bottom of my wardrobe in a gift bag, but might move them to the fridge in the shed now I've read this.

I have some rocket, beetroot, carrots, loads of stuff, some I'm going to use more of this year, but plan to use some next year. Thanks all, will order more seeds nearer the time I need them.