Seed that's been coated with a clay like substance which increases the size of the seed and is most useful for commercial growers who sow their tomato seed mechanically.

Carolyn

Only wimps use pelleted seed!

Don't think I have ever seen or even heard of pelleted TOMATO seed.

Usually only used on tiny flower seeds and things like carrots, broccoli, and cabbage. Tomato seeds are large enough. They don't need to be pelleted.

Dave

Dave, I've run across pelletized tomato seed, perhaps in one of the commercial only catalogs that I used to borrow from my commercial farmer friend. Actually I think one can even request that the seeds can be pelletized, at an extra cost. Same as those places who will do hot water treatment of tomato seeds to hopefully inactivate any bacterial pathogens which are supposed to reside in the endosperm.

Carolyn

Harris Seed sells pelleted tomato seeds of some varieties.

Ferry Morse sells them. I picked them up last year when I first started growing. I thought they sprouted pretty quickly for tomatoes, not sure if the pellet helped any.

Exactly it at was Ferris/Morris seed at Lowe's store where I saw it . Sounds like it makes it where they can count them out better and give no free seeds in the pack. 30seeds=30SEEDS

Weird. Sure isn't needed for any reason unless you plant mechanically and even them not that much benefit since the pelleted cover lasts all of 2 sec. once it gets wet. Likely just a way to fancy them up and then charge more for the seeds.

Dave

I was at HD yesterday and all the tomato seeds were pelletized. Is pelletized a word?

Pelleted seed can also be more than just clay.

Often the seeds are coated in a polymer which can do many things such as hold chemicals or regulate germination timing by withholding water until a certain temperature permits water from reaching the seed. This helps farmers place seed early when soil planting conditions may be right (dry enough) and then helps prevent rotting of the seed if temps are still too cool when the moisture does come. This can be important in the spring when rains can delay planting otherwise.

In addition to small seed, irregular shaped seeds are often pelleted to allow for easier handling.

In addition to clay and polymers, various starches are also used.

In some cases seeds which are erratic germinators are primed (pre-sprouted) and then held in a suspension of polymer. They then are quickly planted. The polymer helps protect the emerging radicle and allow for mechanical planting. This is method helps ensure better stands of direct seeded plants in the field. I am unsure if this is done on processing tomatoes.

I planted a few pelltized EARLY GIRL with other things(pepp, Toms, ..) they germinated first. But also planted my own STEVIA seeds, that I can hardly see them, They germinate before everything else.

I don't know the wisdom of pellitizing other than ease of handling. Maybe the coding can keep the seed fresher longer too. And maybe it provides some germination assistance.

I am sure it is more costly to pellitize seeds than give away a few more in the package.

I didn't notice that I bought "pelletized seeds" 'til I got home and started planting them. I got the F/M seeds, I can't remember how many the package said was in there but there were at least 50% more than what they listed.