Daily gardening tip · Southern hemisphere · Saturday 22 August 2026 · late winter
Check your stored seed packets
Checking your existing seeds now prevents disappointment when spring planting begins next month.
15 minuteseasyplanning
Gather all your leftover and stored seed packets in one place.
Look at the packaging to find the expiry or sow-by date.
Discard any packets that are several years out of date or damaged by moisture.
Sort the remaining viable seeds by their spring sowing month.
Write a shopping list for the missing seeds you still need to buy.
Why it works
Seed viability drops over time, meaning older seeds are much less likely to sprout. Sorting your seeds in late winter ensures you only plant reliable seeds and gives you plenty of time to buy replacements before the spring rush.
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