"Seed Caps?"

Greatgardens · May 21, 2013

Occasionally, a tomato seed can't seem to get it's leaves out of its seed cap. But recently, I started 4 New Big Dwarf seeds, and all 4 that I planted had significant difficulty getting out of their seed caps. I've not seen 100% of germinating seeds with this issue (although 4 seeds is a low number). Is this likely a genetic abnormality with this variety? Maybe "old seed?" Any thoughts on this or "seed caps" in general?
-GG

Redbaron · May 21, 2013

Most tomato helmet heads extract themselves in a few days if you just leave them alone. Peppers are another story. Lots of the time I have to get the tweezers out and help the peppers.

You get less helmet heads by planting deeper, as the friction of coming through the soil pull off the seed coat. But you also must wait longer for seeds to sprout and sometimes get less germination too. It's a trade off.

Crandrew · May 21, 2013

I dab the cap with a wet Qtip and allow it to permeate, then it softens the coat and allows an easy extract. It's true the peppers do seem to be a bit more resilient to holding onto their helmets

livinonfaith · May 21, 2013

There have been a few posts about this that suggest putting a little bit of spit on the coating. Something about it staying moist longer and the chemical makeup helping more than water?

Either way, keeping it moist seems to help.

tlintx · May 21, 2013

I've just been pinching them off between my nails, ever so gently. Crack, crack, slide. I think I've killed a couple, but if at least a little leaf survives, they seem to shake it off.

Tl

TightenUp · May 21, 2013

i use a little spit and wait a few minutes. i've also used water from a spray bottle, whatever is handy. then just wait a few minutes and pinch off.

i tend to grab the seeds where the split should be, not the flat part of the seed if that makes sense....

Alfredo · May 21, 2013

I've grown New Big Dwarf for several years now, can't say I've ever run into that specific problem with the New Big Dwarfs. It's happened to me with other varieties, but never saw a pattern within one variety either. Usually I just leave the caps alone and eventually they've fallen off, and maybe on one occasion I used a toothpick to pry one off. Moistening it as some have suggested, sounds like a good idea though. I'll have to try that the next time it happens.

~Alfredo

May 21, 2013	#1
Greatgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,124	"Seed Caps?" Occasionally, a tomato seed can't seem to get it's leaves out of its seed cap. But recently, I started 4 New Big Dwarf seeds, and all 4 that I planted had significant difficulty getting out of their seed caps. I've not seen 100% of germinating seeds with this issue (although 4 seeds is a low number). Is this likely a genetic abnormality with this variety? Maybe "old seed?" Any thoughts on this or "seed caps" in general? -GG

May 21, 2013	#2
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	Most tomato helmet heads extract themselves in a few days if you just leave them alone. Peppers are another story. Lots of the time I have to get the tweezers out and help the peppers. You get less helmet heads by planting deeper, as the friction of coming through the soil pull off the seed coat. But you also must wait longer for seeds to sprout and sometimes get less germination too. It's a trade off. __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

May 21, 2013	#6
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	i use a little spit and wait a few minutes. i've also used water from a spray bottle, whatever is handy. then just wait a few minutes and pinch off. i tend to grab the seeds where the split should be, not the flat part of the seed if that makes sense.... __________________

May 21, 2013	#3
Crandrew Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: asdf Posts: 1,202	I dab the cap with a wet Qtip and allow it to permeate, then it softens the coat and allows an easy extract. It's true the peppers do seem to be a bit more resilient to holding onto their helmets

May 21, 2013	#4
livinonfaith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina Posts: 1,332	There have been a few posts about this that suggest putting a little bit of spit on the coating. Something about it staying moist longer and the chemical makeup helping more than water? Either way, keeping it moist seems to help.

May 21, 2013	#5
tlintx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: SeTx Posts: 881	I've just been pinching them off between my nails, ever so gently. Crack, crack, slide. I think I've killed a couple, but if at least a little leaf survives, they seem to shake it off. Tl

May 21, 2013	#7
Alfredo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Clifton, NJ Posts: 554	I've grown New Big Dwarf for several years now, can't say I've ever run into that specific problem with the New Big Dwarfs. It's happened to me with other varieties, but never saw a pattern within one variety either. Usually I just leave the caps alone and eventually they've fallen off, and maybe on one occasion I used a toothpick to pry one off. Moistening it as some have suggested, sounds like a good idea though. I'll have to try that the next time it happens. ~Alfredo