Germination temperatures for vegetables seeds often differ from the ideal temperature for plant growth. Some vegetable seeds will only germinate when warmer than the best soil growing temperature, so they have to be germinated in a propagator, on the windowsill or under a cloche .
Here is a chart of some ideal temperatures:
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Germination temperature |
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Growing temperature |
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| Asparagus |
77 |
|
60-70 |
|
| Beans – french |
75-85 |
|
60-65 |
|
| Beans – runner |
75-85 |
|
65-75 |
|
| Broccoli |
80 |
|
60 – 65 |
|
| Brussels Sprouts |
75 – 80 |
|
60 – 65 |
|
| Cabbage |
75 – 85 |
|
60 – 65 |
|
| Carrots |
75 |
|
60 – 70 |
Sow Directly into soil |
|
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|
|
Does not transplant well. |
| Cauliflower |
80 |
|
60 – 70 |
|
| Celery |
70 |
|
60 – 70 |
|
| Leeks |
75 |
|
75 |
|
| Lettuce |
40 – 60 |
|
40 – 60 |
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| Onions |
65 – 85 |
|
65 – 85 |
|
| Parsnips |
65 – 75 |
|
65 – 75 |
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| Peas |
40 – 75 |
|
40 – 75 |
Sow Directly into soil |
|
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|
|
or sow in gutter |
| Potatoes |
45 |
|
|
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| Spinach |
50 – 75 |
|
60 – 65 |
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| Swiss Chard |
50 – 85 |
|
60 – 65 |
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| Turnip |
50 – 95 |
|
50 – 95 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Germination temperature |
|
Growing temperature |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Asparagus |
77 |
|
60-70 |
|
| Beans – french |
75-85 |
|
60-65 |
|
| Beans – runner |
75-85 |
|
65-75 |
|
| Broccoli |
80 |
|
60 – 65 |
|
| Brussels Sprouts |
75 – 80 |
|
60 – 65 |
|
| Cabbage |
75 – 85 |
|
60 – 65 |
|
| Carrots |
75 |
|
60 – 70 |
Sow Directly into soil |
|
|
|
|
Does not transplant well. |
| Cauliflower |
80 |
|
60 – 70 |
|
| Celery |
70 |
|
60 – 70 |
|
| Leeks |
75 |
|
75 |
|
| Lettuce |
40 – 60 |
|
40 – 60 |
|
| Onions |
65 – 85 |
|
65 – 85 |
|
| Parsnips |
65 – 75 |
|
65 – 75 |
|
| Peas |
40 – 75 |
|
40 – 75 |
Sow Directly into soil |
|
|
|
|
or sow in gutter |
| Potatoes |
45 |
|
|
|
| Spinach |
50 – 75 |
|
60 – 65 |
|
| Swiss Chard |
50 – 85 |
|
60 – 65 |
|
| Turnip |
50 – 95 |
|
50 – 95 |
|
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One way to speed up the germination of parsnip & parsley seed is to allow the seeds to soak up moisture before they are planted. Both parsnip and parsley seed are notoriously slow to germinate, but this speeds the process up.
To aid germination:
- wet a towel & wring out the surplus water
- cover half the wet towel with a single layer of seed
seed-on-wet-towel
- wrap the other half of the towel over the seed, so that it is covered
- keep the towel moist & at room temperature
- sow the seed 24 hours after wrapping in the towel
- once soaked, the seeds must be sown, as the process of germination will have started
- do not allow the seeds to dry out, as the germination will be upset
- do not keep any seed that is left over, for sowing later, as it will probably not germinate once it has dried out
Gardeners are always wondering why their parsley & parsnip seed is not germinating, so try this way to speed up germination.
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Seeds require water and certain temperatures to grow. Different seeds require different temperatures. Some even need a period of extreme cold (vernalisation) before they will germinate.
The time the seed takes to sprout (the germination time) varies with the season, which effects the soil temperature. In an early, warm spring, the soil will warm up faster than in a cold, late season.
It is therefore difficult to predict how long it will take for seeds to emerge. But, as a rough guide, vegetable seedlings will emerge within this number of days in the right conditions:
Aubegine 10-12
Beans (runner & french) 7-10
Beetroot 10-14
Broad beans 10-14
Broccoli 6-10
Brussels Sprouts 6-10
Cabbage 6-10
Carrots 10-21
Cauliflower 6-10
Celery 10-14
Courgette 5-8
Cucumber 7-10
Eggplant 10-12
Endive 10-14
Kale 5-10
Kohlrabi 5-10
Leeks 10-14
Lettuce 6-10
Marrow 6-10
Melon 5-10
Mustard Greens 5-10
Onions 10-14
Onions (Spring) 10-14
Parsnip 21-28
Peas 7-10
Pepper 10-14
Pumpkin 6-10
Radish 5-8
Spinach 14-21
Squash 6-10
Swedes 6-10
Sweet Corn 6-10
Swiss Chard 7-14
Tomato 10-14
Turnips 6-10
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