Pelleted Seeds Questions

[AlittleSalt]

The other day, I was looking at the few remaining tomato seed packs at a retail store when I saw this package of Jelly Bean Tomato seed that said, "Pelleted". Being that I had never looked at tomato seeds until I joined Tomatoville - I had never seen or heard of pelleted seeds.

I asked an employee working in the garden center what pelleted meant? She looked it up on her 960, and told me that it means that the tomatoes grown from pelleted seed will not be as big as usual! (Incorrect)

The seed pack was cheap and I was curious, so I bought them. It turns out that:

"Pelleting improves the shape, size, and uniformity of raw seeds for more accurate sowing by hand and precision-sowing by machine. The use of pelleted seed results in a more uniform stand, less seed actually being used, and less time spent thinning." (Cited: Too many internet sources to count)

Anyway, it's seed that looks like it was coated with yogurt and dried to about the size of a BB. Yes, very easy to see and plant. The Ferry~Morse package I bought had 8 (Eight) seeds in and cost $1.28. Compared to the Burpee Roma seeds I bought for $2.29 that has around 100 seeds. Even the $0.20 American Seed packs have around 20-25 seeds per pack.

What I am wondering is if "Pelleting" is more of a ploy to get people to pay more for less product? Or is pelleting more for a seed sowing machine?

For me, putting those white, large, pelleted seeds into the 2 inch potting starter pot was somewhat easier, but not enough to warrant getting so few seeds.