Do seeds go bad with time, or can you plant them no matter how old they are? The answer is, yes, seeds will eventually go bad and no longer germinate, but it can take quite a long time. There is a good chance that those old seed packets will have a high percentage of seeds that will germinate just fine.

Seeds need the right temperature and moisture to germinate. Light isn’t necessary for most seeds until leaves start to show. At that point, the embryos have used up the energy stored in the seeds and need light to produce energy through photosynthesis to continue to grow.

Seeds will not germinate so well in light as in darkness ; because light decomposes the carbonic acid gas, expels the oxygen, and fixes the carbon; thus hardening all the parts of the seed, and preventing vegetation.

The most important thing to consider and deliver is adequate plant light. Seedlings need more light than full grown plants, ideally as much as 16-18 hours a day. Additional light may be required for seeds started during the winter months.

To speed germination, cover the pots with plastic wrap or a plastic dome that fits over the seed-starting tray. This helps keep the seeds moist before they germinate. When you see the first signs of green, remove the cover.

Many seeds germinate much quicker in paper towels or coffee filters (versus seeds that are started in soil). The heat, moisture, and controlled conditions inside a plastic baggie help them germinate in only a few days (or less, depending on the seed).

You can also repurpose household items into seed starting containers, like egg cartons, Dixie cups, and yogurt cups. Just wash them out and poke a few drainage holes in the bottom with a nail or an awl.