What you get from the big box stores won't be out of date, but it won't be the best seed, either. If you buy something like Pennington or Scott from the big box or the nursery, you'll probably be getting the same seed (although the nursery may take better care at keeping it temperature controlled). But to get the best seed, you'll need to get sod quality seed. For that, you may be able to get it at a nursery, or you may need to go online. If you've got KBG in most of your lawn and you seed one patch with fescue, it may stick out like a sore thumb. You may get the same thing if you seed it with elite KBG, too. Before overseeding, you may want to see if it snaps back once it cools down. KBG can go dormant for extended periods without dying. In fact, in some ways, it handles drought better than tall fescue. Tall fescue will stay green longer than KBG, but if it goes dormant, it's a short hop from dormant to dead. KBG goes dormant faster, but is more likely to snap back even if it is dormant for a long time. Another thing to consider is that if a small patch of KBG dies, it will fill in from the surrounding grass. If a small patch of tall fescue dies, it will stay bare dirt until some other seed sprouts (if you overseed it will be the grass you want, otherwise, it will be crabgrass, dandelions, plaintain, etc).

If you want the best results, DO NOT USE PLASTIC! Use some sort of paper. I like newspaper, folded into envelopes and the seams sealed with "scotch" tape. You may want to use a double thickness of newspaper. The newspaper absorbs and dissipates any residual moisture your seeds may retain. Plastic will hold that moisture and mildew may set up. You can use an open plastic box or pickle jar for storage but don't put on the top. Also, put paper towels in the bottom to absorb and dissipate moisture. For shipping, leave them in the newspaper envelope and then make fold them in cardboard for protection. Mail them in a padded envelope.

I store my bulk end-of-season harvest of tomatillos in an unheated garage in their husks in shallow boxes that are lined with newspapers. The garage temp? not sure, but probably anywhere from 60F and downward as the colder weather progresses. As long as they aren't layered deeply, most will keep for months for me -- well into winter! I do check them occasionally and remove any that have softened or gone bad, and that seems to be caused by excess moisture. I also don't leave them if the garage will go below freezing. :) I know you only asked about shelf-life, but I tried and they also freeze great! just remove the husk and freeze whole in freezer bags.

Hi Tammi, I had made myself a note to check back with you on the 20th.; but here you are. I am down on the other side of Wooster. I appreciate any help. The ideal size for the card boxes would be 9" long by 6" wide, by at least 2" deep. That means we would have to have a piece of card stock bigger than 8 1/2" X 11" to start with. Does the score-it board even accommodate that big of a sheet of paper? The one I looked at didn't appear to, but then I don't know anything about using one. Still have my heart set on those "glossy candy boxes" at that one site. I even called the other day and asked if I could buy less than 100. He flat out said, "No, 100 only". I pleaded a little. "No, orders of 100 only". Shoot. I don't even have 100 friends to send boxes of cards to!