Welcome to gardening and thanks for asking questions. Your seeds should sprout even from old seed packs, but as they are not as fresh, the rate of germination or sprouting will be less. This should not matter so much as you are growing in containers with less room. For success with growing edibles in containers, be sure to use a high quality potting soil. I like the Osmocote or Miracle Grow brand of soil, as the fertilizer is already mixed in for you. Use pots at least 12 inches deep and grow them in full sun. Some herbs like a lean soil, so you may want to add sand or perlite to regular potting soil so that you don't overwater the herbs. Any herb with gray foliage or that comes from a hot Mediterranean climate (oregano, salvia, basil) prefers soil on the dry side. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti