Regarding viability of pelleted seeds, Evelyn in the garden had this to say about petunias, but what she says could also relate to other plants:
"evelyninthegarden said:
Rubi ~ It has been my experience that pelleted seeds need to be used the same year as purchased. I have tried and they just don't last very long. I have very old un-pelleted seeds that have germinated to my amazement. Some weren't even in sealed packets. I hate to waste money (and time) and now that I know, I will just toss them. And if I receive any more pelleted seeds, I will just sow them all, or give the extras to someone who can use them right away. Lesson learned!"
by: evelyninthegarden
Mar 22, 2023 2:26 PM EST
https://garden.org/thread/repl...
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So, seed viability can vary according to how it was stored before germination is attempted. Years ago my late dh and I saw a lotus blooming in a public aquatic garden outside Washington, DC, and evidently the seed from which it grew had been found by archeologists excavating a buried lake near Beijing, China that might have been dated to about 1500-1700 bp, if I remember correctly.
