Soil minimum temperatures for vegetable seed germination. The response of germination to temperature is a curve with a peak ii. The peak is the optimum temperature for germination Table. The optimum soil temperatures for vegetable seed germination. Turnip Sweet corn Watermelon Swiss chard f.
High temperatures can kill the seed or the seedling as it emerges ii.
Maximum soil temperatures are an important consideration in summer when you are doing fall plantings Table. Maximum soil temperatures for germination. Radish Sweet corn Swiss chard Tomato Turnip Watermelon 2. Soil moisture a. Rate of germination increases up to a limit as moisture levels increase above the minimum b. Soil moisture ranges from the field capacity to the permanent wilting point i. Field capacity - the maximum amount of water that your particular soil will hold.