All untreated seeds carry on or within them microscopic fungi and bacteria. Hundreds of kinds of seed-borne organisms, capable of causing plant diseases exist. These fungi and bacteria may cause seeds to decay in the soil and young seedlings, bulbs, corms or rhizomes to rot before or after shoots emerge from the soil.

Organisms carried on the seed may also be the source of certain types of dwarfing or stunting, root rots, smuts, wilts, mildews, leaf spot and blights, stripe diseases, etc., which later appear on the growing plant.

Practically all vegetable and flower seeds benefit from seed treatment. Seed protectants, properly applied at the recommended dosage, destroy seed-borne organisms on and in the seed, check seed-rotting fungi in the soil, help establish a higher percentage of more vigorous seedlings, plus producing bigger yields of higher quality vegetables and flowers.

No other garden practice produces such benefits for so little money and time. Seed treatment is cheap garden insurance.

Influencing Factors

Certain factors influence the infection of seed and young seedlings by micro-organisms.

1 – Climatic conditions during the latter part of the growing season of the seed-producing mother plant. Some organisms may enter seed about the time of pollination, particularly if the period is humid. or wet.

2 – State of maturity when seed is harvested.

3 – Climatic conditions just before and during harvest. If the seed is too dry at harvest it is easily damaged. Organisms then enter through the cracks in the seed coat. If seeds harvested too wet it may mold and not even germinate later. Seed which is harvested with a high moisture content should be carefully dried.

4 – The method used and rapidity of artificial drying may greatly change the numbers of organisms on and in the seed.

5 – Conditions of seed storage and duration of storage. Seeds stored with a high moisture content may “spoil” or “heat,” killing the germ in the seed. Each kind of seed` should be stored under carefully regulated conditions and be checked periodically. Older seed becomes weak and should be discarded.

The above factors are good reasons why you should buy- seed, only from established, reputable seed dealers. Check with your county agent or extension horticulturist if you are not sure of the seed source or distributor. Ask the salesman what the germination percentage is of the seed you buy. Frequently it is stamped right on the package.

Most vegetable seed, especially that sold by the better seedsmen, has a high germination percentage (85 per cent or more), excellent beauty insurance and is free from seed borne diseases and garden weed seeds. Some of this seed has already been treated by the time you purchase it.

It is not too uncommon to find packets of flower seeds which have a zero germination. Is it any wonder sometimes that the seed doesn’t sprout?

Reputable seedsmen call in all unsold seed each year to be sure you buy only fresh, high-quality seed.

The overall recommendation suggest buying certified, disease-free seeds of bean, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, pea, etc. grown in Western states. This seed is carefully grown in irrigated regions where the humidity is low and many seed borne diseases are unknown. Such seed often benefits from a treatment to protect it against soil-borne micro-organisms capable of causing seed rot and damping-off. Tomato and other seedlings which are frequently shipped across state borders are carefully inspected by state officials before and during shipment to ensure as far as possible that the plants you buy are free of disease.

All untreated seeds carry on or within them microscopic fungi and bacteria. Hundreds of kinds of seed-borne organisms, capable of causing plant diseases exist. These fungi and bacteria may cause seeds to decay in the soil and young seedlings, bulbs, corms or rhizomes to rot before or after shoots emerge from the soil.

Organisms carried on the seed may also be the source of certain types of dwarfing or stunting, root rots, smuts, wilts, mildews, leaf spot and blights, stripe diseases, etc., which later appear on the growing plant.

Practically all vegetable and flower seeds benefit from seed treatment. Seed protectants, properly applied at the recommended dosage, destroy seed-borne organisms on and in the seed, check seed-rotting fungi in the soil, help establish a higher percentage of more vigorous seedlings, plus producing bigger yields of higher quality vegetables and flowers.

No other garden practice produces such benefits for so little money and time. Seed treatment is cheap garden insurance.

Influencing Factors

Certain factors influence the infection of seed and young seedlings by micro-organisms.

1 – Climatic conditions during the latter part of the growing season of the seed-producing mother plant. Some organisms may enter seed about the time of pollination, particularly if the period is humid. or wet.

2 – State of maturity when seed is harvested.

3 – Climatic conditions just before and during harvest. If the seed is too dry at harvest it is easily damaged. Organisms then enter through the cracks in the seed coat. If seeds harvested too wet it may mold and not even germinate later. Seed which is harvested with a high moisture content should be carefully dried.

4 – The method used and rapidity of artificial drying may greatly change the numbers of organisms on and in the seed.

5 – Conditions of seed storage and duration of storage. Seeds stored with a high moisture content may “spoil” or “heat,” killing the germ in the seed. Each kind of seed` should be stored under carefully regulated conditions and be checked periodically. Older seed becomes weak and should be discarded.

The above factors are good reasons why you should buy- seed, only from established, reputable seed dealers. Check with your county agent or extension horticulturist if you are not sure of the seed source or distributor. Ask the salesman what the germination percentage is of the seed you buy. Frequently it is stamped right on the package.

Most vegetable seed, especially that sold by the better seedsmen, has a high germination percentage (85 per cent or more), excellent beauty insurance and is free from seed borne diseases and garden weed seeds. Some of this seed has already been treated by the time you purchase it.

It is not too uncommon to find packets of flower seeds which have a zero germination. Is it any wonder sometimes that the seed doesn’t sprout?

Reputable seedsmen call in all unsold seed each year to be sure you buy only fresh, high-quality seed.

The overall recommendation suggest buying certified, disease-free seeds of bean, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, pea, etc. grown in Western states. This seed is carefully grown in irrigated regions where the humidity is low and many seed borne diseases are unknown. Such seed often benefits from a treatment to protect it against soil-borne micro-organisms capable of causing seed rot and damping-off. Tomato and other seedlings which are frequently shipped across state borders are carefully inspected by state officials before and during shipment to ensure as far as possible that the plants you buy are free of disease.