How many years can seeds survive for?

Answer 1

Some more exotic plants have seeds that can survive for many years. Most annuals, perinneals and vegetables have to be planted yearly. ~I think~

Answer 2

depends on what type of seed and the condition they are kept in. For example Parsnip seeds need to be planted the year following harvest otherwise they tend not to sprout. Runner beans however will still grow when 3 or 4 years old if kept dry and at a constant temperature. Some seeds have been found in the Pyramids and were able to sprout (something like wheat i think)

Answer 3

i planted mangetout one year very successfully but the following year i had to buy new seeds as the ones i still had wouldnt germinate- however radish seeds and runner bean seeds,for instance, can be used year after year for quite a long time.
In the wild seeds last a lot longer. Cactus seed for instance can lay dormant for 10 years before germination- which is why i dont plant cacti from seed!

Answer 4

Seeds can survive for many years but for home gardeners the germination percent decreases as each year passes from the year they were collected for. In nature, seeds can survive for billions of years and when the conditions are just right, germinate.

Answer 5

It depends upon the species and how "natural" the seed is. Storage conditions also have a massive impact on their viabilty.
Seed taken from the inside of the pyramids have been known to germinate. So the answer is at least 2000 years for some.
The Guinness Book of Records will give you some good answers!

Answer 6

Hello is that you Dave, how are you? When my pa died I found a box containing dozens of packets of seed that he had saved over the years. I planted some and not one took, they were about 6 years old. So 2/3 yrs I would say.

Answer 7

It really depends on the type of seed, how it is stored, how fresh it was to begin with. Most vegetable seeds will keep for several years tightly sealed in a canning jar in the refrigerator.

Answer 8

It depends on the seed and the conditions it is stored under.

I have personally seen a fern in "Inner Space Cavern" that was grown from a seed (ok technically a spore) that was reportedly several hundred thousand years old.

Answer 9

I've planted corn from the same seed packet three years running now with no negative outcome. So three years is a good time. I store them in a dark cool place.

Answer 10

Obviously it depends on the type of seed and the conditions they are kept.

I'm sure i saw somewhere they were collecting all the different seeds they could get hold of as a kind of Noah's Ark, so probably indefinitely.