How long do seeds last?

Question

I have some seeds I saved from my grapefuits, oranges, and lemons. My questions is, how long do they last before they can longer be planted?
Days? Months? Years? Decades?
And is this true for all seeds...strawberries, sunflowers, etc...

Answer 1

Citrus seeds are highly perishable & it's recommended that the seeds be planted as soon as you can.
"The seeds should only be stored if they cannot be immediately planted. If it is necessary to store the seeds, it is recommended that they be placed in clear poly bags and stored at 35o to 45o Fahrenheit (3o to 7o Celsius). Care should be taken to avoid temperature extremes, since this will damage the viability of the citrus seeds. Do not expose the seeds to freezing or high temperatures. Exposure to direct sunlight should be avoided."
http://www.reedbroscitrus.com/template.asp?page=seed

The seeds of some plants of the moist tropics are viable for only a few weeks while seeds of plants of the dry tropics must possess greater longevity, waiting for favorable conditions.
http://www.tuhsd.k12.az.us/Desert_Vista_HS/academics/Science/Biology/standard/botfruit.htm

Laboratory and field research in Europe indicate that viable woods Strawberry seeds may persist in soil for at least 5 years.
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/fraves/all.html

Generally for most seeds, if seeds are kept dry, they last longer than in more humid conditions.
Also, as in the case of citrus seeds, being careful to maintain a specific moisture content & not allowing them to completely dry out, can make a difference in the viability of the seeds.

Seed life varies. One "record for proved longevity seems to be some viable water lily (Nelumbo nucifera) seeds, dated by the radioisotope method to be about 1040 years old, which were found in a peat layer in Manchuria".
http://www.tuhsd.k12.az.us/Desert_Vista_HS/academics/Science/Biology/standard/botfruit.htm
Some seeds of Lotus plants are known to be up to 2000 years old and still can be germinated.
http://plantphys.info/seedg/seed.html

Most vegetable seeds remain viable for three to five years when stored properly. Place thoroughly dry seed in a tightly closed glass jar and keep the jar in a cool dry location. Put silica gel packets in with the seed to help keep it dry. You can add diatomaceous earth to seed to help prevent insect damage. Store seed in the refrigerator to further increase its life expectancy.
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1255.htm

Of the vegetable seeds, Parsnips, spinach, lettuce and the alliums have the shortest seed life...And there may be some correlation with oil content of seeds with seed life. Generally, the higher oil content seeds decline in germination more quickly.
Seed is best stored through the winter at 50 degrees, at 50 percent humidity. A good way to store unused seed packets is to place them in a sealed jar with a desiccant such as powdered milk or rice at the bottom (to absorb moisture). Store your seed jar in the refrigerator or a cool area, such as a basement.

The general guideline for flower seed viability is: annual seeds are generally good for one to three years; perennial seeds- two to four years.
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=466

Good Luck! Hope this is helpful.

Answer 2

Isadora is right. Seeds have been found in Egyptian tombs that they were still able to germinate.

I hate to tell you this, but you don't want to plant seeds from fruit trees of any sort. These trees are grafted onto a much hardier root stock and the trees from the seeds never do well. Ditto with roses.

On the other hand, if you have, say, a tomato you think is particularly lovely, plant the seeds! My mom did this with tomatoes and had the most wonderful, hardy plants.

So, forget the trees but use seeds from peppers, tomatoes, melons, strawberries, etc.. After all, the farmers only use the strongest, most vigorous growing plant. Oh, one caveat. If the fruit isn't grown locally or in the same growing zone, you'll have different results. Plan accordingly!

Answer 3

I've kept seeds for radishes, tomatos and that sort of thing for over 5 years and there is hardly any difference. Citrus seeds supposedly don't keep that well, but it won't be a huge difference. Instead of a 90% success rate, maybe only 60 or 70% of the seeds will sprout. Not a huge deal.

Make sure that you dry the seeds out completely. I'd let them sit and dry for at least a week, a month is best. Otherwise they will go mouldy when you try to store them.

Answer 4

How Long Do Seeds Keep

Answer 5

some seeds will only last one year after falling from the plant. Others will last years. Now if they are just a year old you can try to plant them some will come up others will not. I have used 5 year old seeds and SOME have come up. You will not get 100% of them to come up. I have had good luck with Morning Glories. some of the lettuce is a pain to get the first year. Basil can be tricky the same for sage. Lets put it this way the sooner you plant them the better the outcome.

Answer 6

The seeds last about 6 months, what happens after six months is the life in the seed starts to die, so they can be stored in a plastic bag in the fridge to make them last alot longer and fresher or you can put them in a plastic bag in the closet or basement and yes it is true that it is the same time for strawberries and sunflowers to last the same time.

Answer 7

Viability in seeds is really very varied. Some wheat seeds have been known to remain alive for over a thousand years.
I don't believe fruit seeds will remain viable for very long. Once they dry out, they will be pretty much gone. They should be planted fresh. You might put them in a plastic bag with dry peat moss and store them in the refrigerator until you want to plant them.
One way to test if seeds are still alive is to take a few of them, put them between wet paper towels in a large plastic bag, and put in a warm place for three or four days. If they sprout, then they are alive.

Some seeds may take months, and are very difficult, to germinate, however, and you will have to do some research on the different kinds of seeds to know how to grow them.

Answer 8

A fig seed of an extinct variety was found at an archaeological dig a few months ago. Even though it was 3000 years old it germinated and grew. Guess your seeds will be ok for a couple of years at least.

Answer 9

I had collected seed from my pondarosa lemon. I had the seeds sitting out, in open air for about a year, before i started to notice bad germination rates. like most have said, it depends on how long they take to dry out completly.

Answer 10

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Answer 11

That's a tough question to answer because some plants have seeds that will remain viable years and years.
Mostly it depends on how they were stored. The time can vary according to that.
Department of Horticulture
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
Much of seed viability depends upon storage conditions.
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1995/3-3-1995/seedv.html

FAQ's
Seeds can last for decades if stored properly.
http://www.gardenbuddies.com/forum/messages/4309/1250552.html
EXCELLENT LINK FOR HOW TO STORE SEEDS. BELOW
Storing seeds: Store seeds in a small covered glass jar in the refrigerator. Keep them dry. One way to ensure dryness is to use a silica gel pack, like you can get from craft stores. You can also use a tablespoon or so of instant dried milk in a coffee filter to absorb moisture in the jar.
http://www.alchemy-works.com/growing_tips.html
Edited:
Peat Moss will hold moisture, so I don't think I would use it.