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| Some Abbreviations Used |
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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.
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| Plant | Days for Germination | Light/ Dark | Temp °F | Medium | Depth of Seed | Special Info |
| Paeonia (hp) | 365+ s/i | L | 50-60 | Well-drained | JC | Keep moist and in shade. |
| Paeonia (hsh) | 270+ s/i | L | 70 | Well-drained | JC | #4 |
| Palms (tp) | 60-180 s/i | . | 75-80 | Peaty | ¼" | See Banana |
| Pachypodium (tp) | 30-180 s/i | L | 65-75 | Well-drained | SS | . |
| Pansy (hp) | 14-21 s/i | D | 65-75 | Well-drained | 1/16" | #3 for 2 weeks. |
| Papaver (hp) | 10-30 | D | 55 | Well-drained | SS | Best sown IS. |
| Papaver Orientale (hp) | 10-30 | L | 55 | Well-drained | SS | Best sown IS. |
| Paradisea (hp) | 30-180 s/i | . | 50 | Well-drained | 1/16" | See Bonsai |
| Parochetus (hp) | 30-90 s/i | . | 50 | Well-drained | 1/16" | #2. |
| Parnassia (hp) | 30-180 s/i | . | 55-65 | Peaty | SS | Soil must be kept moist. Stand container in water. |
| Parthenocissus (h/sh) | 60-180 s/i | L | 60-70 | Well-drained | JC | #2, then #3 for 6 weeks. |
| Passiflora (hhp) | 30-365 s/i | . | 70-85 | Peaty | ¼" | #2. Occasionally soak seed container. |
| Paulownia (ht) | 30-60 | L | 55-70 | Peaty | SS | See Begonia |
| Pavonia (tsh) | 30-60 s/i | . | 75 | Peaty | 1/16" | . |
| Peanuts (ta) | 7-21 | . | 70-75 | Peaty | ¼" | Place seed container inside a plastic bag until germination occurs. |
| Peltiphyllum (hp) | 30-90 s/i | L | 55-60 | Peaty | SS | Stand seed container in saucer of water. Keep soil constantly moist. |
| Penstemon (hp) | 18-21 | L | 55-60 | Well-drained | JC | Benefits from #3. |
| Pentas (tp) | 25-40 | . | 70-75 | Peaty | SS | See Begonia |
| Peperomia (tp) | 15-30 | . | 70-75 | Peaty | SS | See Begonia |
| Perilla (hha) | 15-30 | L | 65-75 | Peaty | SS | . |
| Petrea (tsh) | 30-60 | L | 65-75 | Peaty | SS | . |
| Petunia (hha) | 10-21 | L | 70-75 | Peaty | SS | F1 hybrids and doubles may require 80ºF to germinate. |
| Phacelia (ha) | 12-30 | D | 55-65 | Well-drained | ¼" | Best sown IS. |
| Phaeomeria (tp) | 30-90 s/i | . | 80 | Well-drained | 1/8" | . |
| Phaseolus (tp) | 30-60 | . | 65-70 | Well-drained | 1/16" | #1, then #2. |
| Philadelphus (hsh) | 30-60 | . | 65-70 | Well-drained | JC | . |
| Philodendron (ghs-p) | 30-120 s/i | . | 75-80 | Peaty | 1/16" | . |
| Phlomis (hp) | 14-45 | . | 60 | Well-drained | JC | . |
| Phlomis (hsh) | 30-90 s/i | . | 65-75 | Well-drained | JC | . |
| Phlox (hha) | 10-21 | D | 55-65 | Peaty | 1/16" | Resents transplanting. Sow direct in pots. |
| Phlox (hp) | 25-30 s/i | D | 70 | Peaty | 1/16" | #3 for 4 weeks. |
| Phormium (hp) | 30-180 s/i | . | 60-65 | Peaty | JC | . |
| Phuopsis (hp) | 30-40 | L | 50-60 | Well-drained | SS | . |
| Phygelius (hp) | 10-14 | . | 70-75 | Well-drained | JC | . |
| Phyllodoce (hsh) | 30-60 | L | 55-65 | Peaty | SS | . |
| Physalis (hp) | 21-30 | L | 70 | Well-drained | SS | . |
| Physostegia (hp) | 21-30 | . | 55-75 | Peaty | JC | Reduce temp at night. |
| Phyteuma (hp) | 30-90 s/i | . | 55-65 | Well-drained | JC | See Bonsai |
| Phytolacca (hp) | 30-60 s/i | . | 65-70 | Well-drained | 1/8" | . |
| Picea (ht) | 30-60 s/i | L | 55 | Well-drained | SS | #3 for 3 weeks. |
| Pieris (hsh) | 30-70 s/i | L | 65-70 | Acid peat | SS | See Begonia |
| Pilea (tp) | 14-60 s/i | L | 65-75 | Peaty | SS | See Begonia |
| Pinguicula (hhp) | 30-120 s/i | L | 55 | Peaty | SS | Use ½ peat and ½ sand. Also: See Begonia |
| Pinus (ht) | 30-60 s/i | L | 55-65 | Well-drained | SS | #2, then #3 for 6 weeks. |
| Pittosporum (hhsh) | 30-60 | . | 55 | Well-drained | 1/16" | Place seeds in bag and dip in boiling water for 3 to 5 seconds. |
| Platycodon (hp) | 15-30 | L | 70 | Well-drained | SS | . |
| Platystemon (ha) | 14-30 | . | 55-65 | Well-drained | 1/16" | Best sown IS. |
| Plumbago (tp) | 25-30 | . | 70 | Well-drained | JC | . |
| Plumeria (tp) | 30-180 s/i | . | 65-75 | Peaty | 1/16" | #2. |
| Podolepis (hha) | 21-30 | L | 65-70 | Well-drained | SS | . |
| Podophyllum (hp) | 30-180 s/i | L | 55-60 | Peaty | JC | #3 for 3 weeks. Keep soil consistently moist. |
| Polemonium (hp) | 20-25 | . | 70 | Peaty | 1/16" | Reduce temp at night. |
| Polygala (hsh) | 30-60 | L | 60-65 | Well-drained | JC | . |
| Polygonatum (hp) | 30-550 s/i | . | 50 | Well-drained | 1/16" | See Bonsai |
| Polygonum (hha,hp) | 21-60 s/i | . | 70-75 | Peaty | 1/16" | Do not overwater. |
| Portulaca (hha) | 14-21 | L | 70-85 | Well-drained | SS | . |
| Potentilla (hp) | 14-30 | . | 65-70 | Well-drained | JC | . |
| Poterium (hp) | 30-60 s/i | . | 50 | Well-drained | JC | See Bonsai |
| Primula (ghs) | 20-25 | L | 55-60 | Peaty | SS | . |
| Primula (hp) | 21-40 s/i | L | 60-65 | Peaty | SS | #3 for 3 weeks. |
| Primula Sinensis | 20-25 | D | 55-60 | Peaty | SS | Cover container, keep in dark place and check for germination. |
| Proboscidia (hha) | 15-45 s/i | . | 70-75 | Peaty | ¼" | . |
| Protea (hht) | 30-90 s/i | . | 65-75 | Peaty | ¼" | Use fresh seed, or sow immediately upon receipt. |
| Prunella (hp) | 30-60 | . | 55-65 | Well-drained | 1/16" | . |
| Prunus (ht) | 120-365 s/i | L | 65-75 | Well-drained | 1/16" | #2 overnight, then #3 for 4 months. |
| Pseudotsuga (ht) | 30-180 s/i | L | 65-75 | Peaty | SS | #3 for 8 weeks. |
| Psidium (tsh) | 30-60 s/i | . | 70-75 | Peaty | JC | #2. |
| Ptelia (hsh, ht) | 80-120 s/i | . | 55-60 | Well-drained | 1/8" | #3 for 3 weeks. |
| Pulmonaria (hp) | 30-45 | . | 60-65 | Peaty | JC | . |
| Pulsatilla (hp) | 30-180 s/i | . | 60-70 | Well-drained | JC | Trim 'tails' off seeds before sowing. Also: See Bonsai |
| Punica (hhsh) | 30-45 | L | 70-75 | Well-drained | SS | #2. |
| Pyrola (hsh) | 30-90 s/i | L | 55 | Peaty | SS | . |
| Pyracantha (hsh) | 40-180 s/i | L | 50 | Peaty | JC | #3 for 6 weeks. |
| Pyrethum (hha,hp) | 30-60 s/i | . | 55 | Well-drained | JC | Double flowers may not increase till 2nd year. |
© 2001 by Ernestina Parziale
