Seed Germination Tips
Order Tropical Seeds - Order Vegetable/Annual Seeds - Fruit Database - List of Plants With Pictures - Fruits Around the World
Tropical Seeds
Germinating
tropical seeds can be both exceedingly easy, and very tricky. Certain seeds
begin to sprout inside the fruit as it ripens. Many other seeds go into a
period of dormancy that must be broken for them to germinate. Considering
that "tropical seeds" encompass plants growing in such varying,
and often subtlely different climates, there are a number of different strategies
for germinating tropical seeds in your garden. Below we list a number of species,
with general and specific tips on germination. The only constant requirement
for pretty much any seed is to keep the soil temperature warm, usually about
75-85F. Always remember, tropical seeds are not the same as the tomato and sunflower types of seed you will find at a local garden store. They have widely varying germination times that can range anywhere from the Ice Cream Bean (Inga edulis), which germinates while still inside the fruit, to many types of palms, which average up to 9-12 months for germination. Fortunately the latter is the exception, not the norm. Germinating the exotics can be quite fun and extremely rewarding, but often requires a different mindset and different approach than that used for germinating the common garden annuals.
Garden Vegetable and Flower Seeds
Standard garden annuals, plants such as tomatoes, peppers, corn, poppies, lettuce, etc. are in general, some of the easiest seeds to germinate. A world apart germination ease from some of the tropicals, most will germinate rapidly (within days to a week or two) under standard conditions. A few, such as the peppers can be trickier, so read some of our comments below. For the most part, garden annuals need minimal pre-treatment and germinate fairly well in regular soil and with moderate water.
A Note on Our Seeds
We take the utmost care in handling and delivering fresh seeds. We pride ourselves on the quality and diversity of the seeds we offer and we routinely test our seeds for viability and germination. We never are going to send you old, musty seeds that have been laying on a shelf for years. We use the very same seeds we send to customers to germinate our own plants. Our product offerings have a lot of turnover, specifically because we strive to offer seeds in season and keep storage of seeds at a minimum. We at Trade Winds Fruit greatly value your business and wish you all the best in your gardening endeavors!
Other general tips and notes:
- Soaking
seeds in a warm, moist paper towel, or in warm water, for 24 hours prior to
planting also helps to break dormancy.
- Keep the soil warm! Many tropicals, just like tomatoes (which are originally from the tropics) require night time soil temperatures to be warm for germination. Even if your day time highs are well into the 70's, the soil may cool off so much at night that the seeds never start.
- Also note that
many tropical seeds may be planted in sub-optimal conditions, only to germinate
months (sometimes even a year or more) later when the soil warms up, or conditions
are more favorable. Passiflora seeds are notorious for this.
- Giberellic acid may also be applied for seeds that are more difficult to
germinate.
Temperate Seeds: A few require cold-stratification for germination. We've tried to include this information when available, but proper cold-stratification generally requires a few weeks to a few months of the seeds stored at refrigerator temperatures prior to planting.
| Species | Germination Time |
Notes |
| Artocarpus species | 1-3 weeks |
Seeds should be planted immediately. Germination usually begins within a week or two in warm soil. |
| Brosimum species | 2-4 weeks |
Seeds usually begin germination upon removal from the fruit. Root growth begins almost immediately, shoot growth can take a couple weeks longer. |
| Eugenia species | varies |
Many Eugenia species are marginally hardy, or subtropical. Seeds can take several weeks to begin root growth, and longer for shoot growth. Seeds can vary quite a bit, and some may begin sprouting almost immediately. |
| Eugenia stipitata Eugenia victoriana |
2-6 months |
|
| Garcinia species | 1-4 weeks |
Plant immediately. Germination is generally slow, but quick. Seeds of some species occasionally produce shoots prior to roots. Warm soil (75-85F) is a must. Don't overwater but keep moderately moist. Plant in shade. |
| Inga species | 1-3 weeks |
Usually begin root and shoot growth while still inside the fruit. Plant immediately. |
| Litchi chinensis | 1-4 weeks |
Plant immediately. Do not dry. Seeds generally begin germination rapidy in moist, warm (75-90F) soil. |
| Synsepalum dulcificum | 1 week - 3 months |
Germination often begins quickly but can be extremely slow when it starts. May take a few weeks for roots to begin to develop and longer for a shoot to break the soil surface. |
| Syzygium species | 1-4 weeks |
Tropical
ones tend to have seeds that must be planted immediately upon harvest,
and will usually begin growing roots within days. e.g. S. aromaticum,
S. mallacense Subtropical species, or marginally hardy tropical species, have seeds that can often be stored a few months, and usually break dormancy in warm soil. Most will begin root growth in a few weeks, although shoot growth can take a bit longer. e.g. S. cordatum, cuminii, jambos, oleosum, paniculatum |
| Theobroma species | 1 week - 1 month |
Seeds cannot be stored and should be planted immediately. Do not expose to temperatures below 50F. Seeds sprout best at 75-90F, with high humidity. |
| Species | Germination Time |
Difficulty |
Notes |
| Acacia species | 3-4 weeks-A few months |
M |
Seeds are best soaked in room temperature water for 24 hours prior to planting. Some methods include lightly scarifying the seed coat, but care should be taken to not harm the embryo inside. Seeds should then be planted in sterilized soil at 75-85F. Germination times vary, with some seeds showing quick germination within a couple of weeks and some requiring a few months. |
| Aegle marmelos | 3-8 weeks |
E |
Use warm (75-90F) soil. Do not overwater, seeds are sensitive to rot. Water when soil surface begins to dry. |
| Allium species (Onion) | 1-2 weeks |
E |
Warm (65-85F), wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination. |
| Annona species | 2 weeks- 4 months |
E-M |
Break dormancy with warm soil, or pre-soak. Sprouting usually begins 1-3 months later, but can take longer. |
| Asiminia triloba | 1-6 months |
M-H |
May benefit from cold stratification in moist peat or soil at 34-42F for several weeks prior to planting. Upon planting, use warm soil (70-85F), keep moderately moist. Germination can be slow and a bit erratic, usually averaging a couple of months. |
| Berberis species | 3-12 months |
M-H |
Extremely variable. Seeds of most species benefit from cold stratification storage at 34-40F for several weeks prior to planting. Seeds are very slow to germinate and tend to show highly erratic germination times. |
| Bomarea species | 1-9 months |
M |
Extremely variable. Seeds sometimes germinate within a few weeks but may go dormant and require several months. Moderate temperatures seem best for germination (60-75F). Seeds germinate well in peat. |
| Borojoa patinoi | 3-8 weeks |
E-M |
Use warm (75-90F) soil. Do not overwater, seeds are sensitive to rot. Water when soil surface begins to dry. |
| Brassica species (Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Radish, Turnip) |
1-2 weeks |
E |
Wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination within days to a week or two. |
| Brugmansia species | 2-8 weeks |
E-M |
Variable. Plant at 70-80F. Germination usually takes at least a couple of weeks, but can take up to a couple of months. Different species show varying germination times. |
| Capsicum annuum | 1 week- 2 months |
E |
Variable. In warm soil (75F), many C. annuum peppers (the most common type) will germinate within a couple of weeks. Tepin and Pequin peppers are the trickiest, generally taking 3-6 months to germinate in warm soil. Do not use acidic soil. |
| Capsicum baccatum | 2 weeks- 2 months |
E |
Variable. In warm soil (75F), many will germinate within 2-4 weeks. |
| Capsicum chinense | 3 weeks- 3 months |
E-M |
Variable. Chinense species (e.g. Habanero's) generally take longer to germinate than most common peppers. Germination is slower, but usually consistant after a few weeks. Keep soil warm to very warm (75-90F) for better germination. Do not use acidic soil. Some Chinense peppers, in particular Bhut Jolokia, Naga Morich and related peppers are very slow to germinate, averaging 1-4 months germination time. |
| Capsicum eximium | 3-12 weeks |
E-M |
Variable. Use warm (75-90F) soil. Seeds are typically slower than standard garden peppers to germinate and may take up to a few months. Warmth and humidity speeds germination. |
| Capsicum frutescens | 2 weeks- 2 months |
E |
Variable. In warm soil (75F), many will germinate within 2-4 weeks. |
| Capsicum pubescens | 1-3 months |
E |
Manzano type peppers usually take up to 2-3 months to germinate under ideal conditions. |
| Capsicum species | 1 week- 4 months |
E |
Variable. In warm soil (75F), many peppers will germinate within a couple of weeks. Manzano type peppers usually take up to 2-3 months to germinate under ideal conditions. Habanero (C. chinense) peppers usually take 1-2 months. Tepin and Pequin peppers are the trickiest, generally taking 3-6 months to germinate in warm soil. |
| Carica species | 2-6 weeks |
E |
Generally sprouts in 2-6 weeks. Will take much longer if soil temperature is cool. |
| Casimiroa species | 2-4 weeks |
E |
Generally sprouts in 2-4 weeks. Will take much longer if soil temperature is cool. |
| Citrus species | 2 weeks- 6 months |
M |
Can take a couple of weeks up to 3-6 months to sprout. Make sure the soil is warm (75-85F), make sure soil is sterile. Dried citrus seeds must break dormancy to germinate, which can be tricky and time consuming. |
| Citrus Blood Oranges |
2 weeks- 6 months |
M |
Blood oranges often come true to seed, unlike some other Citrus sinensis varieties. Most major blood orange varieties are usually seedless, but will produce some seeded fruits. Fruiting takes 6-12 years from seed. Follow planting directions for general Citrus. |
| Coffea species | 1 week- 3 months |
E-M |
Variable, tend to be picky about warm temperatures. Keep soil at least 75F, seeds will usually then sprout in a few weeks. Dormancy can be be tough to break so seeds often take up to a few months to sprout. |
| Cucumis species | 1-3 weeks |
E |
Warm (65-85F), wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination. |
| Cucurbita species | 1-3 weeks |
E |
Warm (65-85F), wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination. |
| Datura species | 2-6 weeks |
E |
Warm (75-85F), wet soil is usually sufficient for reasonably fast germination. |
| Daucus carota (Carrot) | 1-2 weeks |
E |
Warm (65-85F), wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination. |
| Helianthus species (Sunflowers) | 1-2 weeks |
E |
Warm (65-85F), wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination. |
| Ixora species | 4-12 weeks |
M |
A bit slow to germinate in our experience. Warm to hot soil seems to work best. Water moderately. |
| Jaltomata species | 2-6 weeks |
E |
Seeds usually germinate within 2-6 weeks at 75-85F. |
| Lactuca sativa (Lettuce) | 1-2 weeks |
E |
Warm (65-85F), wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination. |
| Lactuca virosa | 2-4 weeks |
E |
Warm (65-85F), wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination. A bit slower to germinate in our experience than typical garden lettuce. |
| Lagenaria species | 2-6 weeks |
E |
Warm (75-85F), wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination. Generally a bit slower to germinate than common melons. |
| Luffa species | 2-6 weeks |
E |
Warm (75-85F), wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination. Generally a bit slower to germinate than common melons. |
| Macadamia species | 1-5 months |
E-M |
Pre-soaking speeds germination. Also consider scarification (cutting) of hard outer shell to allow water to penetrate the interior. If scarification is performed, extra care must be kept to make sure the soil is sterile so fungus and bugs will not eat the seed kernel. |
| Malpighia species | 3-12 months |
H-VH |
Very erratic and slow germination. Some seeds may germinate quickly, others may take up to 12 months and longer. Plant in moderately moist soil, at 70-85F. Use well drained soil and do not overwater. |
| Marlierea species | 4-16 weeks |
E-M |
Variable, some seeds sprout within a few weeks, others take much longer. |
| Momordica species | 2-6 weeks |
E |
Warm (75-85F), wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination. Generally a bit slower to germinate than common melons. |
| Morinda citrifolia | 6-12 months |
M |
Reliable, though very slow germination. Minimum time required is usually 6 months. Soil needs to be warm (75-90F) and moderately moist. |
| Ocimium species (Basil) | 1-4 weeks |
E |
Warm (70-85F), wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination. |
| Papaver species (Poppies) | 1-4 weeks |
E |
Warm (65-80F), wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination. Hot temperatures sometimes inhibit germination. |
| Passiflora species | 3 weeks- 8 months |
M |
Variable. Warm water pre-soak is highly recommended. Some people will soak in very warm, (+140F) water for a short period of time to break dormancy, although care should be taken not to kill the seed embryo. Seeds tend to be killed around 170-180F. Once dormancy is broken, seeds may germinate within 3-12 weeks. Seeds with delayed breaking of dormancy generally take 3-8 months to germinate. |
| Peppers (hot and sweet) | 1 week- 4 months |
E |
See 'Capsicum' above. |
| Physalis species | 2-6 weeks |
E |
Seeds usually germinate within 2-6 weeks at 75-85F. |
| Pisum sativum (Pea) | 1-2 weeks |
E |
Wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination. One of the easiest seeds to germinate. |
| Psidium species | 1 week- 4 months |
E-M |
Variable, some seeds sprout within 1-3 weeks, others take much longer. |
| Puya species | 3 weeks - |
M |
Varying germination times. Use warm soil (75-85F) and lightly water. Seeds are prone to rot. Water when soil surface begins to dry. |
| Ribes species | 3-12 months |
M-H |
Extremely variable and often difficult. Seeds of most species benefit from cold stratification storage at 34-40F for several weeks prior to planting. Seeds are very slow to germinate and tend to show highly erratic germination times. |
| Rubus species | 3-12 months |
M-H |
Extremely variable and often difficult. Seeds of most species benefit from cold stratification storage at 34-40F for several weeks prior to planting. Seeds are very slow to germinate and tend to show highly erratic germination times. |
| Sapindus species | 1-4 months |
E-M |
Seeds have a hard seed coat; some sources suggest scarifying. We have had luck either way. Use warm (75-85F) soil. |
| Solanum melongena | 2-6 weeks |
E |
Seeds usually germinate within 2-6 weeks at 75-85F. |
| Solanum quitoense | 4-8 weeks |
E |
Seeds usually germinate within 2-6 weeks at 75-85F. |
| Solanum sessiliflorum | 4-8 weeks |
E |
Seeds usually germinate within 2-6 weeks at 75-85F. |
| Solanum uporo | 2 weeks - 4 months |
E |
Variable. Use warm (75-90F) soil. Seeds can go into a sort of dormancy. Warmth and humidity speeds germination. |
| Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) | 1-2 weeks |
E |
Moderately warm (60-70F), wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination. |
| Tomatoes | 1-4 weeks |
E |
Seeds generally germinate fairly quickly in warm soil. In colder soil (<65F), they may be very slow to germinate or not germinate at all. |
| Ugni species | 3 weeks- 4 months |
M |
Variable, some seeds sprout within a few weeks, but generally take quite a bit longer. |
| Vigna species | 1-2 weeks |
E |
Warm (65-85F), wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination. |
| Zea species (Corn) | 1-2 weeks |
E |
Warm (65-85F), wet soil is usually sufficient for fast germination. |
| Zizyphus species | 1-6 months |
M |
It is recommended to carefully cut, or crack open the hard seed coat. |
Difficulty Key
Note that a number of seeds are rated at different difficulties, these are subjective ratings based on our and others experience germinating these seeds. Most people, following proper directions should be able to germinate easy and moderate seeds without much trouble. Recalcintrant seeds are generally easy to germinate---because many are in the process of germinating when they are harvested---but must be kept at proper conditions. Recalcitrant seeds tend to be highly picky about cool temperatures, low humidities and lack of water.
E = Easy (fast, requires little pretreament or experience with seeds, may germinate under widely variable conditions)
M = Moderate (slower to germinate (possibly a month or more), but still easy under typical conditions and requires minimal experience germinating seeds)
H = Hard (slow to germinate, requires proper conditions, may benefit from heating mat or controlled conditions; may require pretreatment or special treatment e.g. stratification)
VH = Very Hard (extremely slow or erratic to germinate, needs controlled conditions)
©Trade Winds Fruit