Standard Germination for Vegetable Seeds

5–464. Standard Germination for Vegetable Seeds. A. All vegetable seeds shall show the percentage of germination and the minimum for ‘‘Standard Germination’’ for vegetable seeds shall be as follows:

Kind Percentage Anise 50% Artichokes 60% Asparagus 70% Basil, Sweet 70% Beans, Asparagus 75% Beans, Garden 70% Beans, Lima 70% Beans, Runner 75% Beets 65% Broadbean 75% Broccoli 75% Brussels Sprouts 70% Burdock, Great 60% Cabbage 75% Cantaloupe 75% Caraway 55% Cardoon 60% Carrots 55% Cauliflower 75% Celery or Celeric 55% Chervil, Salad 65% Chicory 65% Chives 50% Citron 65% Collards 80% Coriander 70% Corn, Pop 75% Corn, sweet 75% Cowpeas 75% Cress, garden 75% Cress, upland 60% Cress, water 40% Cucumber 80% Dandelion 60% Eggplant 60% Endive 70% Fennel, Florence 60% Fennel, Sweet 50% Fetticus (corn salad) 70% Kale 75% Kohlrabi 75%

Kind Percentage Leek 60% Lettuce 80% Marjoram, Sweet 50% Muskmelon 75% Mustard 75% Okra 50% Onion 70% Oregano 60% Pak-Choi 75% Parsley 60% Parsnip 60% Peas, garden 80% Peanut 60% Pepper 55% Pe-Tsai 75% Pumpkin 75% Radish 75% Rhubarb 60% Roquette 60% Rosemary 30% Rutabaga 75% Sage 60% Salsify 75% Savory, Summer 55% Sorrel 65% Soybean 75% Spinach (except N. Z.) 60% Spinach, N. Z. 40% Squash 75% Swiss Chard 65% Thyme 50% Tomato 75% Tomato, husk 50% Turnip 80% Watermelon 70% All other kinds 50%

B. Vegetable seeds which have a germination percentage less than the standard and not less than 50% of the standard shall have the words ‘‘Below Standard in Germination’’ clearly shown in a conspicuous place on the label or the face of the container in type not smaller than 8 point. The seed shall also be labeled to show the percentage of germination, the percentage of purity and the variety. C. Vegetable seeds showing less than 50% of the standard germination cannot be sold in South Carolina. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 34, Issue No. 5, eff May 28, 2010.