rootstock: pelleted or raw?

kerns125 · December 22, 2014

in 2013 I grew Maxifort from Johnny's and had great success with my grafted heirlooms (e.g., my brandywine and Cherokee purple plants that I grafted grew approximately 400% more by weight than their ungrafted siblings).

For some reason, while I had no problems germinating any of my other seeds this past year, my Maxifort seeds from the year prior grew only ONE plant out of about 20-25 seeds planted, and that one graft didn't make it. I was terribly sad.

Obviously I'm buying new rootstock seeds this year, and wondering whether pelleted seeds might keep longer than raw seed? I'm thinking about purchasing my Maxifort seeds from Paramount Seeds this year since Johnny's is about twice as expensive and since their seeds failed on me after only one year....

Does anyone have any opinions or advice for me about this issue?

Thanks!
Jen

JamesL · December 22, 2014

Paramount is my "go to" for rootstock.
Pelleted vs Non - I don't know that it matters.
The pelleting washes right off if you are so inclined. It is just a clay coating. If I remember correctly, the mail reason for the co's to pellet them is for easier handling and counting on their end. Some protection in shipping.
If you get pelleted store them "high and dry". I sent some pelleted Estamino to Anne out in CA in a non-airtight package and when she got around to using them, a few had germinated in the package and a few others crumbled.

heirloomtomaguy · December 22, 2014

Raw. I like estamino or supernatural

beeman · December 23, 2014

I did have a long discussion with Johnnys regarding some pelleted parsnips which didn't do very well one year. They said buying and storing pelleted seed more than one year was a bad thing, something to do with pre-germination.
Now I buy pelleted seed just prior to sowing and they work well.

Worth1 · December 23, 2014

When I first saw the title to this thread I couldn't figure out what on earth it was about.

As was said already, the clay around the seeds will absorb moisture from the air and possibly ruin the seeds if kept for a long time.

Worth

kerns125 · December 24, 2014

Thank you all! Will buy raw and hope they last beyond this year. Merry Christmas!

December 22, 2014	#1
kerns125 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: 22301 Posts: 92	rootstock: pelleted or raw? in 2013 I grew Maxifort from Johnny's and had great success with my grafted heirlooms (e.g., my brandywine and Cherokee purple plants that I grafted grew approximately 400% more by weight than their ungrafted siblings). For some reason, while I had no problems germinating any of my other seeds this past year, my Maxifort seeds from the year prior grew only ONE plant out of about 20-25 seeds planted, and that one graft didn't make it. I was terribly sad. Obviously I'm buying new rootstock seeds this year, and wondering whether pelleted seeds might keep longer than raw seed? I'm thinking about purchasing my Maxifort seeds from Paramount Seeds this year since Johnny's is about twice as expensive and since their seeds failed on me after only one year.... Does anyone have any opinions or advice for me about this issue? Thanks! Jen

December 22, 2014	#3
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	Raw. I like estamino or supernatural __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

December 22, 2014	#2
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Paramount is my "go to" for rootstock. Pelleted vs Non - I don't know that it matters. The pelleting washes right off if you are so inclined. It is just a clay coating. If I remember correctly, the mail reason for the co's to pellet them is for easier handling and counting on their end. Some protection in shipping. If you get pelleted store them "high and dry". I sent some pelleted Estamino to Anne out in CA in a non-airtight package and when she got around to using them, a few had germinated in the package and a few others crumbled.

December 23, 2014	#4
beeman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 692	I did have a long discussion with Johnnys regarding some pelleted parsnips which didn't do very well one year. They said buying and storing pelleted seed more than one year was a bad thing, something to do with pre-germination. Now I buy pelleted seed just prior to sowing and they work well.

December 23, 2014	#5
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	When I first saw the title to this thread I couldn't figure out what on earth it was about. As was said already, the clay around the seeds will absorb moisture from the air and possibly ruin the seeds if kept for a long time. Worth

December 24, 2014	#6
kerns125 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: 22301 Posts: 92	Thank you all! Will buy raw and hope they last beyond this year. Merry Christmas!