Seed storage

Store seeds correctly until sowing

At Benjis Seeds, we take care to process our seeds carefully and store them under suitable conditions. To preserve their quality for as long as possible after shipping, how they are stored afterwards is important.

For most vegetable, herb and flower seeds, this means: store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

Good storage conditions slow the natural ageing of seeds and help maintain their germination capacity. The harvest date and the information on our seed packets provide guidance on their expected storage life.

Suitable storage conditions

We recommend keeping seeds at a temperature that is as stable as possible, ideally around 10–15 °C. A cupboard in a cool, unheated room is often a suitable place. Direct sunlight, heat from radiators and significant temperature fluctuations should be avoided. Garden sheds or rooms that become very hot in summer are therefore unsuitable for long-term storage. Seed packets can be stored very well in a clean, dry screw-top jar or a storage container with a tightly fitting lid.

Overview of storage recommendations:

Keep dry: Protect seeds from moisture. A silica gel sachet helps keep them dry in a sealed container.
Keep cool: Maintain temperatures as consistently as possible at around 10–15 °C.
Low humidity: A relative humidity of around 30–35 % inside the storage container is a useful guideline.
Keep dark: Place transparent containers in a closed cupboard or use opaque containers.
Airtight containers: Make sure the lid seals tightly. This prevents moisture from the surrounding air from continually reaching the seeds.

Silica gel is a moisture-absorbing desiccant and is available, for example, from specialist retailers or online. The sachets should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and replaced or dried again once they can no longer absorb any more moisture. Seeds can also be vacuum-sealed in suitable bags, where possible, and then stored away from light.

When seeds are stored in a tightly sealed container, the entire room does not need to be maintained at the humidity level specified above. If no suitably cool storage place is available, the seeds should be kept in the coolest, driest place in the home until the next sowing. For seed stocks kept for several years, consistently suitable storage conditions are particularly important.

For plant species with specific storage requirements, please follow the guidance provided in the relevant product description.

Viability information on our seed packets

How long seeds remain viable varies from species to species. On the back of our seed packets, the harvest date is shown under “Harvest date”, followed by “Viability”. The number of years stated under “Viability” is calculated from the harvest date. At Benjis Seeds, we use this information as a guide to how long the seeds of each plant species are expected to remain viable when stored under suitable conditions.

The stated period begins from the harvest date, not from the date of purchase or when the packet is opened. It is not a fixed expiry date: seeds do not suddenly lose their ability to germinate after a specific period. Good storage conditions slow the natural ageing process but do not prevent it completely. Depending on their initial quality and how they are stored, seeds may remain viable for longer or lose their ability to germinate sooner.

Older seeds therefore do not need to be discarded simply because of their age. A germination test before the planned sowing helps determine how many seeds are still likely to germinate. Further information is available on our germination capacity page.