Rule 40-12-3-.02. Vegetable and Herb Seed Germination Quality Standards

(1) The following standards for the germination of vegetable seed are hereby adopted: Kind Germination % (a) Anise .................... 50 (b) Artichoke ............... 60 (c) Asparagus.............. 70 (d) Asparagusbean ........ 75 (e) Basil, sweet ............ 70 (f) Bean, garden .......... 70 (g) Bean, lima ............. 70 (h) Bean, runner .......... 75 (i) Beet ..................... 65 (j) Broadbean ............. 75 (k) Broccoli ................. 75 (l) Brussels sprouts ...... 70 (m) Burdock, great ........ 60 (n) Cabbage ................ 75 (o) Cabbage, tronchuda .. 70 (p) Caraway ................ 55 (q) Cardoon ................ 60 (r) Carrot................... 55 (s) Cauliflower ............ 75 (t) Celeriac ................. 55 (u) Celery ................... 55 (v) Chard, Swiss .......... 65 (w) Chervil, salad ......... 65 (x) Chicory ................. 65 (y) Chinese cabbage ...... 75 (z) Chives .................. 50 (aa) Citron ................... 65 (bb) Collards ................ 80 (cc) Coriander .............. 70 (dd) Corn, Pop .............. 75 (ee) Corn, sweet ............ 75 (ff) Cornsalad .............. 70 (gg) Cowpea ................. 75 (hh) Cress, garden.......... 75 (ii) Cress, upland.......... 60 (jj) Cress, water ........... 80 (kk) Cucumber .............. 60 (ll) Dandelion .............. 60 (mm) Dill ...................... 60 (nn) Eggplant................ 70 (oo) Endive .................. 70 (pp) Fennel, Florence ...... 60 (qq) Fennel, sweet.......... 50 (rr) Kale ..................... 75 (ss) Kale, Chinese ......... 75 (tt) Kale, Siberian ......... 75 (uu) Kohlrabi ................ 75 (vv) Leek ..................... 60 (ww) Lettuce ................. 80 (xx) Melon ................... 75 (yy) Mustard, India ........ 75 (zz) Mustard, spinach ..... 75 (aaa) Okra .................... 50 (bbb) Onion ................... 70 (ccc) Onion, Welsh .......... 70 (ddd) Marjoram, sweet ...... 50 (eee) Oregano ................ 60 (fff) Pak-choi ................ 75 (ggg) Parsley.................. 60 (hhh) Parsnip ................. 60 (iii) Pea ...................... 80 (jjj) Peanut .................. 70 (kkk) Pepper .................. 75 (lll) Pumpkin ............... 75 (mmm) Radish .................. 75 (nnn) Rhubarb ................ 60 (ooo) Rutabaga ............... 75 (ppp) Roquette................ 60 (qqq) Rosemary............... 30 (rrr) Sage ..................... 75 (sss) Salsify .................. 75 (ttt) Savory, Summer ...... 55 (uuu) Sorrel ................... 65 (vvv) Spinach ................. 60 (www) Spinach, New Zealand .......... 40 (xxx) Squash.................. 75 (yyy) Thyme .................. 50 (zzz) Tomato.................. 75 (aaaa) Tomato, husk .......... 50 (bbbb) Turnip .................. 80 (cccc) Watermelon ............ 70

1. (2) The minimum germination standard for all other vegetable and herb seed, for which a standard has not been established, shall be 50%.
2. (3) Pursuant to Code section 2-11-22(f)(4), seeds that germinate less than the standard last established by the Commissioner shall have "below standard" printed or written with permanence on the face of the label, in addition to the other information required, provided that no seed marked "below standard" shall be sold if it falls more than 20 percent below the established standard for such seed. No vegetable or herb seed may be labeled "below standard" that has a germination standard of 50 percent or less.
3. (4) For cowpeas and peanuts in containers of five (5) pounds or more, agricultural seed labeling requirements and germination standards shall apply as specified in Code section 2-11-22 and Rules section 40-12-3-.01, respectively.

Authority: Authority O.C.G.A. Secs. 2-11-28, 2-22-22.

History. Original Rule entitled "Vegetable and Herb Seed Germination Standards" adopted. F. June 4, 1997; eff. July 1, 1997, as specified by the Agency.

Amended: Rule retitled "Vegetable and Herb Seed Germination Quality Standards". F. June 5, 2001; eff. June 25, 2001.