COMMON Seed Viability

Seeds are the basis of all we eat.  Failure to maintain access to seeds could become one of the biggest failures of our generation.  Grow open pollinated plants and save their seed to plant again next year.  Insure the safety of your food sources. 

 

Approximate age at which seed of good initial viability stored under cool and dry conditions will still give a satisfactory germination. Seed stored dry and cool will last longer. Remember, a researcher at UCLA germinated lotus seed found in a pyramid that was over several thousand years old.

Common Name Binomial Family ~ Age

Asparagus Asparagus officinalis Liiaceae 3

Beans Phaseolus vulgaris (& others) Fabaceae 3

Beets Beta vulgaris Chenopodiaceae 4

Broccoli Brassica oleracea Brassicaceae 5

Cabbage Brassica oleracea Brassicaceae 5

Cardoon Cynara cardunculus Asteraceae 5

Carrots Daucus carota sativus Apiaceae 3

Cauliflower Brassica oleracea Brassicaceae 5

Celeriac Apium graveolens rapaceum Apiaceae 5

Celery Apium graveolens dulce Apiaceae 5

Chervil Anthriscus cerefolium Apiaceae 3

Collards Brassica oleracea Brassicaceae 5

Corn Zea mays Poaceae 2

Cress Lepidium sativum Brassicaceae 5

Cucumbers Cucumis melo Cucurbitaceae 5

Eggplant Solanum melongena Solanaceae 5

Endive Cichorium endivia Asteraceae 5

Fennel Foeniculum vulgare Apiaceae 4

Kale Brassica oleracea Brassicaceae 5

Kohlrabi Brassica oleracea Brassicaceae 5

Leeks Allium porrum Liiaceae 3

Lettuce Lactuca sativa Asteraceae 5

Muskmelons Cucumis melo Cucurbitaceae 5

Mustard Brassica cretica Brassicaceae 4

Okra Abelmoschus esculentus Solanacea 2

Onions Allium cepa Amaryllidaceae 1

Parsley Petroselinum crispum Apiaceae 1

Parsnips Pastinaca sativa Apiaceae 1

Peas Pisum sativum Fabaceae 3

Peppers Capsicum annuum Solanaceae 2

Pumpkins Cucurbita maxima Cucurbitaceae 4

Radishes Raphanus landra Brassicaceae 5

Spinach Spinacia oleracea Chenopodiaceae 5

Squash Cucurbita moschata; C. pepo and C. maxima Cucurbitaceae 4

Swiss Chard Beta vulgaris Chenopodiaceae 4

Tomatoes Lycopersicon esculentum Solanaceae 4

Turnips Brassica rapa Brassicaceae 4

Watermelons Citrullus lanatus Cucurbitaceae 4

david