Not every seed packet deserves a long retirement in the back of the garden drawer. Some vegetable seeds lose germination power much faster than others, which means an old packet can turn next spring’s carefully planned garden into a patchy experiment in optimism.
That does not mean every seed left over from this season has reached its expiration date. Properly dried seeds kept cool and dry can last considerably longer than neglected seeds exposed to heat and humidity, but certain crops give gardeners much less wiggle room. For these seven, buying a fresh packet next year can save space, time, and the slightly maddening experience of planting an entire row only to discover that half the seeds decided retirement sounded better.
