Germination Requirements
We dedicate our efforts during the growing season to ensure the seeds we harvest and offer to you are top quality. After harvest, every batch of seed is tested to determine its germination percentage. The seeds sold by Great Lakes Staple Seeds must meet or exceed federal germination standards set forth in the Federal Seed Act and if they do not, we do not include them in our inventory. An example is our 2017 Blue Hubbard Squash crop - their germination percentage is just 72%, so that year we did not sell their seeds.
Section 201.31: Germination standards for vegetable seeds in interstate commerce. The following germination standards for vegetable seeds in interstate commerce, which shall be construed to include hard seed, are determined and established under section 403(c) of the act:
| Crop | Germination percentage |
| Bean, garden | 70 |
| Bean, broadbean | 75 |
| Bean, lima | 70 |
| Cowpea | 75 |
| Cucumber | 80 |
| Okra | 50 |
| Pea | 80 |
| Pepper | 55 |
| Pumpkin | 75 |
| Soybean | 75 |
| Squash | 75 |
| Tomato, husk | 50 |
| Watermelon | 70 |
| All other vegetable seed not specified | 50 |