Post date: Feb 25, 2020 11:52:21 AM
Why ideal germination temperature?
Germination is a many step process and needs care to be successful. We discussed a few points in an earier note.
Seeds have a specific preferred termperature in which they germinate. Google to get an entire table.
Usually, the germination range is quite broad, with a window called optimum range where your chance of success is high.
Since seeds get moist first, absorbing water and swelling up, before germinating, they will rot if they can’t germinate. Which is why ensuring the right temperature before putting them in is important.
Both soil and air temperature will matter. In the cold that precedes the Spring, seeds will not get the heat they need, unless we specifically provide for it with a heat mat, greenhouse, hot pile or such techniques.
Since night temps drop precipitously, seeds won’t be able to manage the swing in temps. They need a consistent preferred temp to germinate.
If the temp range is still valid, but far from optimum, seeds will take much longer to germinate. Failure rates will also be high.
Waiting for spring to break is an easy technique to manage the soil temperature. The growing season in Atlanta is long.
The only limitation in late starts is that temps go up so much here, that by end May, it is too hot to transplant.
Allow yourself 4-6 weeks to sow and transplant. Start in multiple batches. Sow smaller number of seeds each time.
The last 6 weeks before Spring (now) is the toughest to hold back the temptation to sow. Keep temps in mind and know what your seeds prefer.