Question
hi. i am wondering if there is a list of the general lifetimes of seeds when store from an organic garden.  i know there are biennials which they say i must plant immediately  or the next spring, but i almost don't want to believe that (like i can't save my onions??).  but anyway i was wondering which are biennials and which i can store and plant in a few years? for instance beans/corn/squashes?

 thanks alot for your help!!

Answer

Often crop seed is left over in a package after planting. This excess seed can be saved for next year's garden, usually with little loss in germination. Seed stored for more than one year, however, will require additional care to insure high germination for future use.

Storage temperature, relative humidity and seed moisture are the important factors in determining how long seed can be stored without loss of germination. The storage life of seed also varies greatly with species.  

Listed below is a link to an excellent resource reference regarding your question: "Vegetable Garden Seed Storage and Germination Requirements":

             http://www.seedman.com/veggerm.htm

Regards,

Mack Jean
AllExperts
Master Gardener
Tennessee