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Seed Germination Chart



Some Abbreviations Used
A: Annual - a plant which lives one year only from seed.
P: Perennial - a plant which comes back every year.
H: Indicates a plant hardy in northern zones.
T: Indicates a tender plant, shrub (sh), or tree (t) which will not winter over in northern zones.
IS: In Situ; can be planted outside directly where it is to grow.
JC: Just Cover; barely cover with soil
SS:Surface Sow; press seeds gently into to the soil to make good contact, but do not cover with any additional soil; these seeds require light to germinate.
L/D: Light or Dark; seeds which require dark should have the flat covered with newspaper or brown paper or something similar to keep light from getting to the seeds. Plants requiring light to germinate are to be surface sown.
S/I: Germination is slow and irregular
HH: Half hardy. If an annual, it will usually not reseed itself in northern zones, and if perennial, will be killed by freezing temperatures.
TP: Tender perennial (or shrub, etc). Will not winter over in northern zones, but makes a good greenhouse specimen.
GHS: Tropical or delicate plant best grown in greenhouse.
BB: Bulb.

NOTE: The heading 'Medium' refers to a sterile potting soil.



-L-
PlantDays for
Germination
Light/
Dark
Temp °FMediumDepth of
Seed
Special Info
Laburnum (ht,hsh)30-60.65-70Well-drained 1/16"#1, then #2
Lagerstroemia (hhsh)15-20L70 Well-drainedSSSee Begonia
Lagunaria (tt)30-180 s/i.68-70Peaty 1/8"#2 for 2 hours.
Lamium (hp)30-60.65-70Well-drained JC.
Lampranthus (hhp)15-30D65-75Well-drained JC.
Lantana (hhp)42-60 s/i.70-75Peaty 1/8"#2 for 12 to 24 hours in hand hot water.
Lapageria (hhp)30-90 s/i.70-75Peaty 1/8"#2 for 3 days. Change water 3 times per day.
Lapeirousia (hbb)30-90 s/i.55-60Well-drained 1/8".
Larix (ht)30-90 s/iL65-75Peaty SS#3 for 1 month.
Larkspur (ha)14-21D50-55Peaty 1/16"#3 for 2 weeks. High temps initiate dormancy.
Lasthenia (ha)17-21.-Well-drained 1/8"Sow IS.
Lathyrus (hp)20-30 s/i.55-65Peaty ¼"#1 or #2.
Laurus (ht)40-90 s/iL50-60Peaty JC#2 for 24 hours, then #3 for 1 month.
Lavatera (ha,hb,tp)15-20.70Peaty 1/16".
Lavender (hsh)21-90 s/i.55-65Well-drained JC#3 for 4 to 6 weeks.
Lawrencellida (hha)21-30L65-75Well-drained SS.
Layia (ha)8-30.70-75Well-drained 1/8".
Ledum (hsh)30-60 s/iL55-65Acid peat SS.
Leea (tp)30-90 s/i.75-80Well-drained 1/8"#2
Leontopodium (hp)10-42 s/iL50 Well-drainedSS#3 for 3 weeks.
Leptosiphon (ha)14-21.55-65Well-drained 1/16"Best sown IS.
Leptospermum (hhsh)30-180 s/i.60Peaty 1/16".
Leptosyne (ha)6-12L60-65Peaty JC.
Leschenaultia (tsh)30-120 s/i.60-70Well-drained JC.
Lewisia (hp)365+ s/iL50 Well-drainedSS#3 for 5 weeks.
Leycesteria (hsh)30-60.60-65Sandy peat JC.
Liatris (hp)20-25.55-75Well-drained JCReduce temp at night.
Libertia (hp)30-180 s/i.50Well-drained 1/8"See Bonsai
Ligularia (hp)14-42s/i.55-65Peaty SSKeep soil slightly moist.
Lilies (hbb)30-365 s/i.65-75Peaty JCSee Lilies
Limnanthes (ha)14-21.60Well-drained 1/16"Can be sown IS.
Limonium (hha, hp)10-21D65-70Well-drained JC.
Linanthus (ha)14-21.-Well-drained 1/8"Sow IS.
Linaria (hp)10-15.55-60Well-drained JC#3 for 3 weeks.
Linum (hp)20-28.65Well-drained 1/8"Best sown IS.
Liquidambar (ht)14-365 s/iL65-75Peaty SS#3 for 3 months. Do not allow to dry out.
Liriodendron (ht)60-365 s/iL65-75Peaty SS.
Lisianthus (hhp)10-21L65-75Well-drained SS.
Lithops (tp)10-40 s/iL75-80Well-drained SS.
Lobelia (hha,hhp)15-20 s/iL65-75Well-drained SSFor perennials: #3 for 3 months. Lobelia inflata:
Sow on layer of wood ashes for best germination.
Loiseleuria (hsh)30-60.65-75Well-drained JC.
Lomatia (hhsh)30-180 s/i.60-65Well-drained 1/8".
Lonas (ha)5-7D70Well-drained JCCan be sown IS.
Lonicera (hsh)180+ s/iL60-70Well-drained JC#3 for 3 months.
Lotus (hhp)14-30 s/i.55-65Well-drained JC.
Luculia (hhsh)30-60 s/i.55-60Well-drained JC.
Lunaria (hb)10-14.70Well-drained 1/8"Can be sown IS.
Lupin (hp)15-60 s/iD55-65Well-drained 1/8"#1 or #2.
Lychnis (hp)21-30L70 Well-drainedSS#1, then #3 for 2 weeks.
Lysichitum (hp)30-60 s/i.55-65Peaty ¼"Keep soil soaking by standing in water.
Lysimachia (hp)30-90 s/i.55-65Peaty SSKeep soil moist.
Lythrum (hp)15-30.65-70Peaty JC.




© 2001 by Ernestina Parziale

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