I found some seeds of basil, oregano, etc. I had forgotten and I went ahead and planted them in little pots... How long do they last and how long will it take til I know ...they aren't going to work? I have them sitting on my windowsill... !
The best way to find out if they are still good is to place a few seeds between two paper towels that are wetted, and keep them wet. If they sprout, they are good. There are always a few seeds that don't germinate.