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Western PA

What temperature is too hot to germinate an ag seed ? I am sure that the thickness of the seed coat may effect the internal temp , but on average, what would you say.
Has anyone experimented ?
And if your temp is too high, will it kill the seed, or will it germinate if you get it back in the comfort zone of 85 degrees ?
Lee

4/28/2010 12:58:14 PM

Rudolph

If the temerature go'es above 95 and stays at that temp for some time you'll be cooking your seeds...

I all ready had my germination chamber well over one hundred,(it was at that temp for maybe 20 minutes) but luckly caught it in time, seeds all germinated after I agusted the temp.

To put it simple your seeds will not germinate once you had it above that temp..... for some time....

Try to keep the temperature at or around 85-90 degrees.

Best of luck.
Josiah O, Brandt..

4/28/2010 2:26:40 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

87-88 works well here, a few of the older Wallace seeds sometimes like low 90's. Ask if in doubt.

4/28/2010 4:17:31 PM

East Jordan, MI

mine got to 91 once for no more than 3 hours (between checks) and they all are doing fine. Been told by a long time grower, that 88 is optimal.

4/28/2010 7:55:38 PM

Deer Park WA

Past experience, if the hit 95 plus for more than a few hours the mortality rate goes way up. If they are below 75 mold and desease issues take their toll. We buffer by pre-sprouting using extra amounts of moist towles litely wraped in cellophane (sP). good luck, they are at their most delicate in the beginning stages!

Gadberry

4/29/2010 1:39:02 AM

Western PA

Thanks for all the replies.
Lee

4/29/2010 9:22:13 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

A friend of mine did an experiment with his daughter for a school science project. They tried germinating a bunch of seeds at various temps. Sure enough, the highest germination percentage turned out to be 85 degrees, exactly what we have been saying all these years.

4/29/2010 10:45:54 AM

Rives jct. Mi.

Using a heating pad under your pots in front of a window works well for me.

5/1/2010 10:39:18 AM