Seed Viability
How long a seed remains viable depends on how the seeds were grown, how strong the seeds are at harvest and on how the seed is stored. If seeds are grown in good condition and are harvested off healthy, strong mother plants, their viability will be greater than those seeds that were grown and harvested in less than favorable conditions. If seeds are stored in a desk drawer, they will not last as long as seeds stored in a cool, dark and dry place or a refrigerator or freezer.
Because there are so many variables that impact viability, there is no consensus on the number of years a seed will remain fresh. Consider the following numbers a guide or an average.
| Seed type | Storage life in years |
| Bean | 3 |
| Beet | 3-5 |
| Broccoli | 5 |
| Brussel sprouts | 5 |
| Cabbage | 5 |
| Carrot | 2-3 |
| Cauliflower | 5 |
| Celery | 4 |
| Chard | 3-4 |
| Corn | 1-2 |
| Cucumber | 3 |
| Eggplant | 5 |
| Lettuce | 1-2 |
| Melon | 3-4 |
| Onion | 1 |
| Pea | 3 |
| Peppers | 4 |
| Pumpkin | 4-5 |
| Radish | 5 |
| Spinach | 3-5 |
| Squash | 4-5 |
| Tomato | 3-4 |
| Turnip | 4-5 |
| Watermelon | 4-5 |