Helmet Head

Tormato · March 18, 2024

I sow extremely shallow, about a dime's thickness deep. So, I get lots of helmet heads.

Saliva works for me, as it continually keeps the seed coat moist. Water dries out much quicker.

After several hours of a moistened seed coat, I gently grab the seed coat sideways between thumb and forefinger, and very lightly squeeze, attempting to at least widen the opening, if it isn't ready to come off. If nothing happens, I set the seedling aside, until perhaps the next morning.

Over the decades, it has likely been about 1,000 helmet heads, for me. My success rate is now near 100%. Except for those headless seedlings, which I generally can spot by the shape of the seed coat, and usually a narrowing of the stem where it emerges from the seed coat.

kurt · March 18, 2024

Dr Carolyn Male did not call it spit,saliva has the enzymes to keep moist.Thanx for input.

habitat_gardener · March 19, 2024

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormato

....Except for those headless seedlings, which I generally can spot by the shape of the seed coat, and usually a narrowing of the stem where it emerges from the seed coat.

I wonder if you mean the same thing by "headless seedlings": one variety we grew in the commercial greenhouse had only a 48% germination rate, and two of those seedlings were "bald," that is, the seed coat was gone, the tip had not been munched, but there were no seed leaves.

It took 8 of us to pot up about 1100 seedlings in less than 4 hours. Only one person pointed out a helmet head, which was easily dislodged because the plants were so wet. They started out on a heat mat and then were at the mercy of the greenhouse's overhead misters.

At home, I get lots of helmet heads. I tried covering the seeds with vermiculite instead of potting mix and still got lots.

rxkeith · March 19, 2024

the method i use for helmet heads is moistening with drops of water off my finger
several times a day. usually, if it is a healthy seedling, it will either push off the seed
coat by itself or i can pinch, and squeeze it off. might take two or three days. about the
only time it doesn't work is when there are no cotyledons to push it off, and no
growing tip. having a moist enough starter mix is helpful. i think helmet heads
happens more often with old seeds. still life in them, but damage has occurred over time.

keith

March 18, 2024	#2
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,491	Dr Carolyn Male did not call it spit,saliva has the enzymes to keep moist.Thanx for input. __________________ KURT

March 19, 2024	#4
rxkeith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Back in da U.P. Posts: 1,840	the method i use for helmet heads is moistening with drops of water off my finger several times a day. usually, if it is a healthy seedling, it will either push off the seed coat by itself or i can pinch, and squeeze it off. might take two or three days. about the only time it doesn't work is when there are no cotyledons to push it off, and no growing tip. having a moist enough starter mix is helpful. i think helmet heads happens more often with old seeds. still life in them, but damage has occurred over time. keith __________________ don't abort. we'll adopt.

March 18, 2024	#1
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,964	I sow extremely shallow, about a dime's thickness deep. So, I get lots of helmet heads. Saliva works for me, as it continually keeps the seed coat moist. Water dries out much quicker. After several hours of a moistened seed coat, I gently grab the seed coat sideways between thumb and forefinger, and very lightly squeeze, attempting to at least widen the opening, if it isn't ready to come off. If nothing happens, I set the seedling aside, until perhaps the next morning. Over the decades, it has likely been about 1,000 helmet heads, for me. My success rate is now near 100%. Except for those headless seedlings, which I generally can spot by the shape of the seed coat, and usually a narrowing of the stem where it emerges from the seed coat.