What Is The Difference Between The Germination Of A Bean Seed & The Germination Of A Corn Seed?

Both beans and corn are warm season crops and need soil temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher to germinate. Beans take eight to 10 days to emerge while corn emerges in four to seven days. Beans seeds stay viable for five years and corn seeds are viable for two years. Corn seeds have a higher tolerance for wet soil, since bean seeds will split and fail to germinate in wet soil.

Broad beans grow U.S. Department of Agriculture planting zones 3 to 11. The beans don't tolerate hot summer weather. In sunny areas in zones 8 and up they're best started from seed in early spring or from late fall through winter. Select a growing area that exposes the plants to full sun, but provides shelter from strong winds. The ideal soil pH for growing broad beans ranges from 6.0 to 6.5. Use a shovel to work the lime or sulfur into the top 7 inches of soil. To sow the broad bean seeds, the soil temperature must at least be 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Lower temperatures may rot the seeds or result in poor germination rates. Create double rows that are spaced about 9 inches apart. Broad bean seeds germinate within about 10 to 14 days. A 3-inch layer of seed-free straw spread on the soil around the plants can help promote soil moisture retention and suppress weeds.