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Seed database
93 plants. Filter by what you need to know before the seed goes in the soil. Every row links to a page with sources.
| Depth | Light | Before sowing | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ageratum Ageratum houstonianum | 70 to 80°F | surface | 7 to 10 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Allium (ornamental onion) Allium spp. | see page | 4 to 8 in (10 to 20 cm) for large types | varies | Treat seed | |
| Apple Malus domestica | see page | about 1 in (25 mm) | varies | Cover | Treat seed |
| Arugula (rocket) Eruca vesicaria | see page | ¼ in (6 mm) | varies | Either | Nothing needed |
| Avocado Persea americana | see page | half the pit buried, tip up | varies | Either | Treat seed |
| Baptisia (false indigo) Baptisia australis | see page | covered | 7 to 14 | Either | Treat seed |
| Basil Ocimum basilicum | 65 to 80°F | ¼ in (6 mm) | 5 to 10 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Bean (bush, pole, green, runner) Phaseolus vulgaris | 75 to 85°F | 1 to 1½ in (25 to 38 mm) | 6 to 14 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Beet Beta vulgaris | 65 to 85°F | ¾ to 1 in (19 to 25 mm) | 5 to 14 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta | 68 to 72°F | cover very lightly | 7 to 14 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Borage Borago officinalis | see page | ¼ to ½ in (6 to 12 mm) | 7 to 14 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Calendula (pot marigold) Calendula officinalis | 70 to 70°F | ¼ in (6 mm) | 7 to 14 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Carrot Daucus carota | 65 to 85°F | ¼ in (6 mm) | 7 to 21 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Catmint Nepeta spp. | 70 to 70°F | do not cover | 7 to 14 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Celosia Celosia spp. | 70 to 80°F | covered very lightly | 8 to 14 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Chamomile Matricaria chamomilla | see page | surface | 10 to 14 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Cherry Prunus avium and P. cerasus | see page | about 1 in (25 mm) | varies | Cover | Treat seed |
| Chervil Anthriscus cerefolium | see page | barely covered | 10 to 14 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| China aster Callistephus chinensis | 70 to 72°F | covered lightly | 7 to 14 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Chives Allium schoenoprasum | see page | ¼ in (6 mm) | 7 to 14 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Cilantro (coriander) Coriandrum sativum | see page | ¼ to ½ in (6 to 12 mm) | 7 to 10 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Citrus (lemon, orange, lime) Citrus spp. | see page | about ½ in (12 mm) | varies | Cover | Treat seed |
| Columbine Aquilegia spp. | 70 to 75°F | do not cover | 10 to 28 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Coneflower (Echinacea) Echinacea purpurea | 65 to 70°F | covered lightly | 10 to 28 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Coreopsis (tickseed) Coreopsis spp. | 65 to 75°F | cover or leave exposed | 9 to 12 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Cornflower Centaurea cyanus | 60 to 65°F | see page | 7 to 14 | Nothing needed | |
| Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus | 68 to 72°F | covered lightly | 5 to 10 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Cucumber Cucumis sativus | 65 to 95°F | 1 in (25 mm) | 3 to 10 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Daffodil (Narcissus) Narcissus spp. | see page | 6 to 10 in (15 to 25 cm) | varies | Treat seed | |
| Dahlia Dahlia × hybrida | 65 to 70°F | ¼ in (6 mm) | 3 to 5 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Delphinium Delphinium spp. | 65 to 70°F | cover lightly | 10 to 20 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Dill Anethum graveolens | 65 to 70°F | ¼ in (6 mm), barely covered | 7 to 21 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Fennel (leaf) Foeniculum vulgare | see page | ¼ in (6 mm) | 7 to 14 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Foxglove Digitalis purpurea | 65 to 70°F | see page | 10 to 21 | Nothing needed | |
| Gaillardia (blanket flower) Gaillardia spp. | see page | surface | varies | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Garlic Allium sativum | see page | about 2 in (5 cm), cloves pointed end up | varies | Cover | Treat seed |
| Gladiolus Gladiolus spp. | see page | about 2 to 3 times the corm's height | varies | Treat seed | |
| Gomphrena (globe amaranth) Gomphrena globosa | 70 to 78°F | covered lightly | 5 to 14 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Hollyhock Alcea rosea | 70 to 70°F | lightly covered | 5 to 21 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis | see page | 5 to 8 in (13 to 20 cm) | varies | Treat seed | |
| Impatiens Impatiens walleriana | 70 to 75°F | surface | 10 to 14 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Iris Iris spp. | see page | Dutch iris 6 to 8 in (15 to 20 cm); dwarf 3 to 4 in | varies | Treat seed | |
| Jicama Pachyrhizus erosus | see page | see page | varies | Cover | Treat seed |
| Kale Brassica oleracea | 65 to 75°F | ½ in (12 mm) | 4 to 8 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Larkspur Consolida ajacis | 55 to 55°F | ¼ in (6 mm) | 14 to 21 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Lavender Lavandula angustifolia | see page | barely covered | 14 to 21 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Leek Allium ampeloprasum | 65 to 85°F | ¼ in (6 mm) | 7 to 12 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Lemon balm Melissa officinalis | see page | barely covered | 7 to 14 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Lettuce Lactuca sativa | 60 to 75°F | ¼ in (6 mm), barely covered | 4 to 14 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Lily Lilium spp. | see page | about 2 to 3 times the bulb's height | varies | Treat seed | |
| Lupine Lupinus spp. | 65 to 75°F | ¼ in (6 mm) | 14 to 21 | Cover | Treat seed |
| Marigold Tagetes spp. | 75 to 80°F | ¼ in (6 mm) | 3 to 14 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Milkweed Asclepias spp. | 65 to 75°F | cover or leave exposed | 14 to 28 | Either | Treat seed |
| Mint Mentha spp. | see page | barely covered | 10 to 14 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Morning glory Ipomoea purpurea | see page | about ½ in (12 mm) | varies | Cover | Treat seed |
| Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus | 60 to 70°F | ½ to 1 in (12 to 25 mm) | 7 to 14 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Nicotiana (flowering tobacco) Nicotiana spp. | 72 to 78°F | surface or lightly pressed in | 7 to 14 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Nigella (love-in-a-mist) Nigella damascena | 60 to 65°F | see page | 10 to 14 | Nothing needed | |
| Onion Allium cepa | 65 to 85°F | ¼ in (6 mm) | 7 to 12 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Oregano and marjoram Origanum vulgare | 65 to 70°F | barely covered | 7 to 14 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Pansy and viola Viola spp. | 62 to 75°F | ¼ in (6 mm) | 4 to 15 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Parsley Petroselinum crispum | 65 to 85°F | ¼ in (6 mm) | 14 to 30 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Pea (garden, snow and sugar snap) Pisum sativum | 65 to 75°F | 1 in (25 mm) | 6 to 15 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Peach and plum Prunus persica and P. domestica | see page | about 2 in (5 cm) | varies | Cover | Treat seed |
| Penstemon (beardtongue) Penstemon spp. | 70 to 70°F | surface; do not cover | 7 to 21 | Needs light | Treat seed |
| Pepper (sweet, bell and chile) Capsicum annuum | 65 to 75°F | ¼ in (6 mm) | 10 to 20 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Petunia Petunia × hybrida | 72 to 77°F | surface | 6 to 10 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Phlox (annual) Phlox drummondii | 60 to 65°F | ¼ in (6 mm) | 5 to 15 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Poppy Papaver and Eschscholzia spp. | 60 to 75°F | surface | 7 to 21 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Potato Solanum tuberosum | see page | about 4 in (10 cm), per CSU's table | varies | Cover | Treat seed |
| Radish Raphanus sativus | 65 to 85°F | ½ in (12 mm) | 3 to 10 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Rosemary Salvia rosmarinus | see page | barely covered | 14 to 21 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Rutabaga (swede) Brassica napus | 64 to 70°F | about ½ in (12 mm) | 7 to 14 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Sage Salvia officinalis | see page | ¼ in (6 mm) | 7 to 21 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Shallot Allium cepa var. aggregatum | see page | set with the tip just showing | varies | Either | Nothing needed |
| Snapdragon Antirrhinum majus | 70 to 75°F | surface | 7 to 14 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Spinach Spinacia oleracea | 65 to 75°F | ½ in (12 mm) | 6 to 14 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Statice Limonium sinuatum | 70 to 70°F | just enough to hold the seed | 5 to 14 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Strawflower Helichrysum bracteatum | 70 to 75°F | surface | 7 to 10 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Summer savory Satureja hortensis | see page | barely covered | 7 to 14 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Sunflower Helianthus annuus | 70 to 75°F | ½ in (12 mm) | 5 to 14 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Sweet alyssum Lobularia maritima | 65 to 70°F | see page | 8 to 10 | Nothing needed | |
| Sweet pea Lathyrus odoratus | 55 to 65°F | ¼ to ½ in (6 to 12 mm) | 14 to 21 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Swiss chard Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris | 65 to 85°F | 1 in (25 mm) | 7 to 14 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Thyme Thymus vulgaris | see page | barely covered | 14 to 21 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Tomato Solanum lycopersicum | 65 to 85°F | ¼ in (6 mm) | 6 to 14 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Tulip Tulipa spp. | see page | 6 to 10 in (15 to 25 cm) for garden tulips | varies | Treat seed | |
| Turnip Brassica rapa | 60 to 95°F | ½ in (12 mm) | 3 to 10 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Verbena (tall) Verbena bonariensis | 60 to 86°F | see page | 14 to 28 | Nothing needed | |
| Winter squash and pumpkin Cucurbita spp. | 75 to 95°F | 1 to 1½ in (25 to 38 mm) | 6 to 10 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Yarrow Achillea millefolium | 65 to 70°F | lightly covered or exposed | 10 to 15 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Zinnia Zinnia elegans | 70 to 85°F | ¼ in (6 mm) | 3 to 7 | Cover | Nothing needed |
| Zucchini (summer squash) Cucurbita pepo | 75 to 95°F | 1 to 1½ in (25 to 38 mm) | 3 to 12 | Cover | Nothing needed |
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Temperatures are soil temperatures in °F. "Treat seed" means a soak, scarification or cold period is advised; the plant page says which. Where sources give no figure the cell says so instead of guessing.