This is a general collection of germination temperatures collated and compared from a range of sources including books and online references. It covers some of the more common plants grown in home gardens.
Accuracy is highly variable based on a range of factors such as light levels, what sort of growing medium is being used, moisture levels and exposure to air movement but it is a basic guide to help determine an idea of how to approach germinating your seeds.
There are also additional techniques that can alter the germination temperatures such as vernalisation, scarification and using Hydrogen Peroxide and other oxidation chemical pretreatments.
If you have more information or suggestions about improving this list please contact us.
| Approximate Germination Temperatures | ||
| Plant | Minimum Temp. °F (°C) | Optimal Temp. °F (C) |
| lettuce | 38 (3,5) | 59-64 (15-18) |
| chicory | 42 (5.3) | 59-64 (15-18) |
| spinach | 32 (0.1) | 59-68 (15-20) |
| onion | 35 (1.4) | 59-68 (15-20) |
| corn salad | 32 (0) | 68 (20) |
| fava bean | 33 (0.4) | 68 (20) |
| radish | 34 (1.2) | 68 (20) |
| garden cress | 34 (1) | 68 (20) |
| pea | 35 (1.6) | 68 (20) |
| cabbage | 35 (1.9) | 68 (20) |
| beet | 36 (2.1) | 68 (20) |
| endive | 36 (2.2) | 68 (20) |
| scorzonera | 36 (2) | 68 (20) |
| celery | 40 (4.6) | 68 (20) |
| purslane | 52 (11) | 68 (20) |
| tomato | 48 (8.7) | 68-77 (20-25) |
| leek | 35 (1.7) | 68-77 {20-25) |
| carrot | 34 (1.3) | 72 (22) |
| parsley | 32 (0) | 77 (25) |
| bean (bush, pole) | 46 (7.7) | 77 (25) |
| pepper | 44 (6.7) | 77-82 (25-28) |
| eggplant (aubergine) | 54 (12.1) | 77-82 (25-28) |
| melon | 54 (12.1) | 77-82 (25-28) |
| cucumber | 55 (12.7) | 77-82 (25-28) |