Days Required for Vegetable Seedling Emergence at Various Soil Temperatures from Seed Planted 1/2 Inch Deep

Soil Temperature (degrees Fahrenheit)

Vegetable

32

41

50

59

68

77

86

95

104

Asparagus

NG

NG

53

24

15

10

12

20

28

Lima bean

-

-

NG

31

18

7

7

NG

-

Snap bean

NG

NG

NG

16

11

8

6

6

NG

Beet

-

42

17

10

6

5

5

5

-

Cabbage

-

-

15

9

6

5

4

-

-

Carrot

NG

51

17

10

7

6

6

9

NG

Cauliflower

-

-

20

10

6

5

5

-

-

Celery

NG

41

16

12

7

NG

NG

NG

-

Sweet Corn

NG

NG

22

12

7

4

4

3

NG

Cucumber

NG

NG

NG

13

6

4

3

3

-

Eggplant

-

-

-

-

13

8

5

-

-

Lettuce

49

15

7

4

3

2

3

NG

NG

Muskmelon

-

-

-

-

8

4

3

-

-

Okra

NG

NG

NG

27

17

13

7

6

7

Onion

136

31

13

7

5

4

4

13

NG

Parsley

-

-

29

17

14

13

12

-

-

Parsnip

172

57

27

19

14

15

32

NG

NG

Pea

-

36

14

9

8

6

6

-

-

Pepper

NG

NG

NG

25

13

8

8

9

NG

Radish

NG

29

11

6

4

4

3

-

-

Spinach

63

23

12

7

6

5

6

NG

NG

Tomato

NG

NG

43

14

8

6

6

9

NG

Turnip

NG

NG

5

3

2

1

1

1

3

Watermelon

-

NG

-

-

12

5

4

3

-

NG = No Germination

- = Not Tested

More days are required with deeper seeding because of cooler temperatures and the greater distance of growth.

Table adapted from J. F. Harrington and P. A. Minges, Vegetable Seed Germination, California Agricultural Extension Leaflet (1954).