The Grass Doctor

When are grass seeds fresh?

If I buy a bag of grass seeds to plant a lawn, what do I have to know about freshness? What time of year are grass seeds harvested, and how long do they stay fresh after that? How long does it take from the time they're harvested till the time they're available for me to plant? Should I order them in advance, so I will get them shortly after they're harvested, which might turn out to be the best time to plant them?

Public Comments

1. Grasses bloom in early May. If you want further details about how a company collects and bags the seeds, I suggest you visit their website. Some nurseries offer bags of product that is stamped, and dated "best if used by.." too
2. grass seed has a date stamped on the bag- "for 2007 season". it becomes available for sale early(like in march) in the planting season. grass seed can be kept indefinitely if it is kept in the correct conditions, dry, relatively cool, out of direct sunlight, and away from insect and rodent pests. the seller guarantees the germination rate for one season only. the bag will have written on it something like 95% germination. older seed usually has progressively lower germination rates. most grass seed is harvested in late summer or early fall. a few species produce their seeds in late spring. most lawn grasses are the summer-early fall type. from harvest of seeds, it is best to plant them the following year. it shouldnt be necessary to order them in advance, unless you want some rare, exotic species. a month or two, before planting, just check with the place that sells them and make sure that they will be available.