Trending Toward Treated Seeds

[greenthumbomaha]

I went to check availability and possibly buy earlier than usual the few hybrids I grow (mainly peppers and cucumbers) . My go-to seller has been Harris Seeds for the past few years, no reason just it is like a favorite pair of worn shoes and sometimes has a shipping deal. Pretty mainstream selection but they carry AAS.

The peppers I had run out of were now only sold as treated seeds. I noticed it was a trend among whatever random things I was looking at, either treated or organic seeds as the only options. To be clear, they are treated and not pelleted I believe. In the past their treated seeds have had strange color coatings, but I was able to get more than one year from the packet.

Have you seen this trending with other companies? Thoughts on treated seeds, good or bad for longevity or germination.

- Lisa

[MissS]

Yes I have seen this lately. It does bother me to receive turquoise colored seeds. I myself have not used them because the color scares me so... I just went and ordered the same seeds from somewhere else. The treated seeds are sitting in a drawer now I wonder if they will keep longer.

[Whwoz]

Color is probably just a dye, to indicate that seeds have been treated, most likely with Thiram

[Tormahto]

The vast majority of treated seed that I see comes from Harris, with little from elsewhere. I handle with care, and have no worries.

[bower]

I have once or twice received treated seeds from a supplier, even though I specified no treated seeds. Could never bring myself to plant those.

Here is an overview of publications about thiram:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/ag ... ces/thiram
here's what was published in the 1950's about effects on the microbiome and persistence in different soil types:
https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/abs/10.1139/b54-029
And here's a recent article on its persistent genotoxic effects in mice:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.10 ... 19-07088-5
Read elsewhere it is hepatoxic (poisons your liver)
Ahhh, why do I even bother to read this stuff? It's never the kind of thing to change my 'no poison' policy.

OTOH I just learned it's being sprayed on the HARVESTED CROPS to keep them from fungal harms.... one more reason to buy organic or grow your own, IMHO.

[Seven Bends]

I prefer untreated seed when available, but I've purchased treated seed a few times when that was the only way a variety I wanted was available. The quantities of pesticide on the seed are miniscule and unlikely to be a problem to human or environmental health in a home garden, as long as you wash your hands after handling. I'm more concerned about worker exposure and emissions from the production of the pesticide and the treated seed.

I haven't noticed a trend toward more treated seed these days; I've just noticed it's mainly available from the companies that cater to market gardeners and farmers rather than mainly to home gardeners. So, how much of it I see depends on where I shop.

Is it possible Harris hasn't restocked some of their products yet for 2022? Maybe the untreated seed you're looking for will be available in a few weeks. Like you, I'm a big fan of Harris. Very fast shipping, excellent germination, and some really great varieties, plus they sometimes have amazing sales on things they're closing out. I got some lettuce seed this year for something like $.35 per pack, and various other things for less than $1. Regular prices seem pretty high on many things right now, though.