Seed Germination Time & Temperature of 63 Plants

Seed Germination Time and Temperature
Seed Germination Time and Temperature

To save yourself from frustration when growing plants from seeds, you should familiarize yourself with their average germination time! Otherwise, you might spend an unnecessary fortune on new seeds. Commonly, this happens when you fail to realize that you just needed to give your green babies more time before seeing them sprout.

The average germination time of plant seeds varies from 2 to 180 days. The optimal temperature range for seed germination is 60–68°F or 15–20°C for most plants, including herbs and vegetables. The lowest temperature acceptable is 50°F or 10°C and the highest is 104°F or 40°C.

These germination times are extremely important. However, nothing is written on stones. Indeed, they greatly vary with temperature and moisture conditions. Let’s see what science says.

1. Germination Time and Temperature of Herbs

I am a fan of culinary herbs. They grow fast, and you do not need great care to thrive. Just avoid the 18 most common mistakes, and they will thrive in no time. Without forgetting that they will reward you with tasty leaves for many months (if not years as discussed in the how long herb last article).

The germination time changes dramatically depending on the plant considered. Basil and mint are among the fastest herbs to germinate with a minimum of just 3-4 days in the right conditions.

Rosemary is one of the herbs with the highest germination time (2 weeks). The majority of herbs have an ideal germination temperature of 68°F (20°C) which guarantees the shortest germination time.

The chart below reports the average germination time at the optimal germination temperature found in dozens of studies and experiments for the 14 most common herbs and shrubs.

HerbSeed Germination TimeSeed Temperature Germination
Basil3 to 10 days77-86°F (25-30°C)
Holy Basil4 to 14 days86-95°F (25-35°C)
Cilantro5 to 10 days50-85°F (10-29°C)
Sage7 to 20 days86-95°F (25-35°C)
Rosemary14 to 30 days60-65°F (15-18°C)
Oregano7 to 14 days68-86°F (20-30°C)
Chives14 to 20 days59-68°F (15-20°C)
Cilantro7 to 14 days68-86°F (20-30°C)
Catnip10 to 14 days70-80°F (21-27°C)
Thyme14 to 30 days59-68°F (15-20°C)
Mint3 to 30 days60-70°F (15-21°C)
Parsley12 to 29 days65-85°F (18-29°C)
Hyssop14 to 42 days60-70°F (15-21°C)
Marigold5 to 14 days70-75°F (21-24°C)
Herb Seeds Germination Time and Temperature

2. Germination Time and Temperature of Vegetables

Below you can find the optimal germination temperature and time for the majority of vegetables you might want to grow. In general, time is quite similar to herbs, varying from as little as 2 days to 2 months.

Lettuce is among the vegetables that germinate the quickest with only 2 days in the right conditions compared to the slower garlic which takes at least half a month in the right conditions.

Check the germination chart with time and optimal temperature for 22 vegetables below.

VegetableSeed Germination TimeSeed Germination Temperature
Leeks11 to 14 days65-85°F (18-29°C)
Lettuce2 to 12 days60-75°F (16-24°C)
Carrots7 to 21 days68-77°F (20-25°C)
Spinach5 to 10 days45-75°F (7-24°C)
Broccoli10 to 14 days60-85°F (16-29°C)
Cauliflower4 to 19 days65-85°F (18-29°C)
Snap Beans6 to 16 days75-85°F (24-29°C)
Lima Beans6 to 30 days75-85°F (24-29°C)
Corn3 to 21 days65-95°F (18-35°C)
Beetroot4 to 42 days65-85°F (18-29°C)
Turnips1 to 5 days60-95°F (16-35°C)
Celery7 to 41 days70-85°F (21-29°C)
Cabbage3 to 14 days60-85°F (16-29°C)
Parsnip13 to 26 days65-75°F (18-24°C)
Spinach2 to 11 days65-75°F (18-24°C)
Okra6 to 27 days85-95°F (29-35°C)
Radish3 to 29 days65-85°F (18-29°C)
Peas2 to 36 days65-75°F (18-24°C)
Onion3 to 13 days65-85°F (18-29°C)
Garlic6 to 14 days65-85°F (18-29°C)
Asparagus10 to 52 days75-85°F (24-29°C)
Kale14 to 21 days70-75°F (21-24°C)
Vegetable Seeds Germination Time and Temperature

3. Germination Time and Temperature of Fruits and Other Plants

Finally, here you can find the germination time and temperature for a large variety of many common flowers, ornamental houseplants, and fruits that you might be interested in. Here the time varies quite significantly from just a couple of days up to 6 months or even longer!

Check below the germination chart for 27 fruits, houseplants, and flowers.

Fruits and Other PlantsSeed Germination TimeSeed Germination Temperature
GrassUp to 1 month41-86°F (5-30°C)
ColeusUp to 3 weeks65-75°F (18-24°C)
ZinniaUp to 3 weeks75-80°F (24-27°C)
ApricotUp to 2 months59-187°F (15-20°C)
DracaenaUp to 6 months75-85°F (24-29°C)
SquashUp to 1.5 weeks85-95°F (29-35°C)
AmaranthUp to 2 weeks70-75°F (21-24°C)
DianthusUp to 3 weeks60-70°F (16-21°C)
GardeniaUp to 1 month70-75°F (21-24°C)
AvocadoUp to 1.5 months70-81°F (21-27°C)
DaisyUp to 3 weeks68-77°F (20-25°C)
EggplantUp to 2 weeks80-90°F (27-32°C)
BromeliadsUp to 3 months60-70°F (16-24°C)
CosmosUp to 1.5 weeks68-86°F (20-30°C)
PeppersUp to 3 weeks68-95°F (20-35°C)
Arum LilyUp to 6 months55-65°F (13-18°C)
TomatoesUp to 1.5 months68-95°F (20-35°C)
CucumberUp to 1.5 weeks63-73°F (17-23°C)
WatermelonUp to 1.5 weeks75-95°F (24-35°C)
ImpatiensUp to 1 month70-75°F (21-24°C)
CantaloupeUp to 1 week75-85°F (24-29°C)
CactiUp to 6 months75-80°F (24-27°C)
EcheveriaUp to 3 months55-65°F (13-18°C)
AzaleaUp to 3 months55-60°F (13-16°C)
FicusUp to 3 months70-80°F (21-27°C)
VioletsUp to 3 weeks65-75°F (18-24°C)
Purple ConeflowerUp to 2 weeks70-75°F (21-24°C)
Fruit and Other Plant Seeds Germination Time and Temperature

How Does Temperature Affect Germination?

Temperature heavily affects seed germination time and rate of success. Indeed, seeds germinate when the “environmental conditions” are just right. Often this means the arrival of springs/summer as long hours of sunlight and milder temperature imply better-growing conditions.

Seed Germination Time and Temperature
Seed Germination Time and Temperature

This explains why the majority of herbs and vegetable seeds require relative 1) stability and 2) high temperature to sprout. All vegetables and herb seeds sprout easily at temperatures of around 68°F (20°C) or slightly above.

Herbs and plants do not have a single specific temperature at which they sprout. They are able to germinate within a given temperature range (the one I provided in the tables above). For instance, in the first table (herbs), basil has an ideal germination temperature range of 77-86°F (25°-30°C).

Hence, basil seeds can germinate fast and at a high rate (most of the seeds will sprout) in such a temperature range.

Ideal Germination Temperature
Ideal Germination Temperature

Does that mean that any temperature outside the ideal germination temperature range (tables above) will not sprout? No, these are ideal temperatures for which your herbs will grow the fastest and higher germination rate.

For instance, as discussed by the Virginia Polytechnic, sweet basil can grow at any temperature between 50 and 104°F (10-40°C) (let’s call it the “possible temperature range”). This is wider than the ideal temperature range of 77 to 86°F (25-30°C).

Basil Germination Time and Temperature
Basil Germination Time and Temperature

Some exceptions, as discussed by the Oregon State University, are the cold-germination crops. Indeed some of the most common vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, and radish can germinate in as little as 40°F (4°C) while others like lettuce, onion, parsnip, and spinach grow even at a low temperature of 35°F (2°C).

Basil seeds germination timelapse

Remember also that, sometimes, there is a small genetic component. You might provide the best conditions, but because of some variation or even some seed disease, some might not sprout or die straightener. It happened to me a couple of times. However, if you have purchased seeds from reliable vendors, this should not be a problem.

Where to find good quality seeds?

For herb seeds, I usually opt for the Sow Righ Seeds brand. You can check them on Amazon here. Never had problems, and their germination rate is quite high. For the UK audience, the De Ree is also a great option.

How do you keep the temperature constant during germination?

To guarantee the right temperature, I would go for a seedling bed mat. It is essentially a small resistor (that consumes like a lamp) that provides constant heat for your seeds. You just need to plug them and place them beneath the seedlings pot.

Check this good one on Amazon to see what they look like.

Further Questions

Will seed germinate in cold weather? Some vegetable seeds such as lettuce, given the right moisture conditions, can germinate in cold weather (as low as 35F). However, this is not the case for herb seeds.

Do seeds need heat to germinate? The large majority of herb and vegetable seeds, except a few exceptions (the so-called cool-season crops), do require heat that guarantees a sufficiently high temperature in the growing medium where the seeds are placed. This can be either from natural resources or natural.

Scientific Reference

This article would not have been possible without the scientific contribution of biologists and other researchers all over the world performing cool experiments to find out for us the best conditions possible for growing our seeds.

yourindoorherbs.com is part of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites like mine to earn advertising fees by promoting good quality Amazon.com products. I may receive a small commission when you buy through links on my website.

Similar Posts