Germination Rates

Jig-Bee tests all our seed lots 3 times a year to make sure the germination rates are up to the standards set by the Federal Seed Act. This 1939 law was created to ensure accurate labeling and purity standards for seeds. Each type of seed has its own germination standard that varies from 40% (e.g. New Zealand Spinach) to 80% (cucumber, turnip, pea). Since the Federal Seed Act does not specify germination rates for most flowers, Jig-Bee also uses the State of Kentucky's Germination Standards for Flower Seed as a guide which ranges from 40% to 70% for several flower varieties. 

Although not required by The Federal Seed Act, Jig-Bee publishes the germination rates on all flower seed packets. Jig-Bee will also publish subsequent germination tests and the corresponding lot number on this website for your reference. We believe in being transparent about our germination rates so you know what germination to expect during your seed starting process, especially when planting out older packets of seeds. 

We will overfill packets for any seed lot with a 50-84% germination rate with enough seed so that you can over seed (2 seeds per cell) to have good germination rates. For lots with germination rates of 85% or higher, we will overfill packets at 5% to account for potential germination problems.