Stephen Albert
Vegetable seed germination is greatly dependent upon soil temperature. Other near equal factors include seed vitality (the age of the seed), soil moisture, soil air, and soil conditions and workability.
This chart shows the range of soil temperatures needed for seed germination. The chart also shows the number of days to germination at optimum temperatures. A seed will germinate at temperatures between the minimum soil temperature and the optimum soil temperatures, but the number of days to germination will be greater.
Use this chart to determine if the soil temperature in the garden is right for seed starting the crop you want to plant. (Use a soil thermometer to take the soil temperature.) If the outdoor soil temperature is not right, you can likely start seed indoors at near optimum temperature.
| Crop | Germination Minimum Soil Temperature (°F) | Germination Optimum Soil Temperature Range (°F) | Germination Maximum Soil Temperature (°F) | Days to Germination at Optimal Temps | |||
| Asparagus | 50 | 60-85 | 95 | 14-18 | |||
| Bean, lima | 60 | 75-85 | 85 | 4-10 | |||
| Bean, snap | 60 | 75-85 | 95 | 4-10 | |||
| Beet | 40 | 60-85 | 95 | 4-10 | |||
| Broccoli | 40 | 60-85 | 95 | 7-10 | |||
| Brussels sprouts | 40 | 60-85 | 95 | 3-10 | |||
| Cabbage | 40 | 60-85 | 95 | 5-10 | |||
| Carrot | 40 | 65-85 | 95 | 6 | |||
| Cauliflower | 40 | 65-85 | 95 | 4-10 | |||
| Celery | 40 | 60-70 | 95 | 10 | |||
| Chinese cabbage | 40 | 60-85 | 95 | 4-10 | |||
| Collards | 40 | 60-85 | 95 | 5-10 | |||
| Corn | 50 | 65-95 | 105 | 4-10 | |||
| Cucumber | 60 | 65-95 | 105 | 5-7 | |||
| Eggplant | 60 | 75-85 | 95 | 10-15 | |||
| Endive | 35 | 60-75 | 85 | 10-14 | |||
| Garlic | 35 | 65-85 | 95 | 7-14 | |||
| Kale | 40 | 60-85 | 95 | 5-7 | |||
| Kohlrabi | 40 | 60-95 | 105 | 5-10 | |||
| Leeks | 35 | 65-85 | 95 | 8-16 | |||
| Lettuce | 35 | 60-75 | 85 | 2-10 | |||
| Muskmelon | 60 | 75-95 | 105 | 4-10 | |||
| Mustard | 35 | 60-75 | 85 | 4-6 | |||
| Okra | 60 | 85-95 | 105 | 7-12 | |||
| Onion | 35 | 65-85 | 95 | 4-12 | |||
| Parsley | 40 | 65-85 | 95 | 5-6 weeks | |||
| Parsnip | 35 | 65-75 | 85 | 5-28 | |||
| Pea | 40 | 65-75 | 85 | 5-7 | |||
| Pepper | 60 | 65-75 | 95 | 7-10 | |||
| Pumpkin | 60 | 85-95 | 105 | 4-10 | |||
| Radicchio | 35 | 60-75 | 85 | 5-7 | |||
| Radish | 40 | 65-85 | 95 | 4-10 | |||
| Spinach | 35 | 65-75 | 75 | 6-14 | |||
| Squash | 60 | 85-95 | 105 | 7-10 | |||
| Swiss chard | 40 | 65-85 | 95 | 7 | |||
| Tomato | 50 | 65-85 | 95 | 5-7 | |||
| Turnip | 40 | 60-95 | 105 | 3-10 | |||
| Watermelon | 60 | 70-95 | 105 | 4-10 |
For specific seed starting requirements for the crop, you want to grow, seed-specific crop seed starting directions. Go to the Index to find your crop or see Seed Starting Specific Crops also in the Index.
Also of interest: Seed Germination Requirements.
